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Thought-Terminating Cliche


Logical Fallacy of Thought-Terminating Cliché / Cliché Thinking

Thought-terminating cliche is one of the many smokescreens that are used to cover the fact that the reasoning is based on one of the three fallacies of Agrippa's trilemma. Whenever a logical fallacy is committed, the fallacy has its roots in Agrippa's trilemma. All human thought (without Divine revelation) is based on one of three unhappy possibilities. These three possibilities are infinite regression, circular reasoning, or axiomatic thinking. This problem is known as Agrippa's trilemma. Some have claimed that only logic and math can be known without Divine revelation; however, that is not true. Without Divine revelation, neither logic nor math can be known. Science is also limited to the pragmatic because of the weakness on human reasoning, which is known as Agrippa's trilemma.

The Logical Fallacy of Thought-Terminating Cliché / Cliché Thinking occurs when a commonly used phrase or some folk wisdom is used as proof. This is often accompanied by a summary dismissal to cut off the discussion. It is often used as a form of summary dismissal. Cliché thinking is reductionist. This is, it over-simplifies things to such a degree that they are difficult to understand. The reasion that cliché thinking makes things hard to understand is that the cliché is thought to be a complete explanation.

For a statement or question to be a thought-terminating cliché, it must be in error. It must be misleading in some way. Trite sayings are not misleading. They are merely trite. When a saying is used to end discussion, and the saying is not a reason to end the discussion, and the saying creates a false impression, this is a logical fallacy of a thought-terminating cliché. For a statement or question to be a thought-terminating cliché, it must be in error. It must be misleading in some way. Trite sayings are not misleading. They are merely trite. When a saying is used to end discussion, and the saying is not a reason to end the discussion, and the saying creates a false impression, this is a logical fallacy of a thought-terminating cliché.

When people with naturalistic, materialistic, or agnostic presuppositions consider what is and is not a thought-terminating cliché, they run into Agrippa's Trilemma and cannot rationally decide what is and is not a thought-terminating cliché.

Thought-terminating clichés are those things that are said that do not come from the Holy Spirit. God speaks through those who hear His Voice and who respond to Him in submission. Learning to hear Him and respond in submission is a moment-by-moment, progressive process. Everything is not a discussion. In other words, much of life is handled with seemingly trite phrases.

  • "Hello."
  • "How are you?"
  • "It's good to see you."
  • "God bless you." (By the way, it is an insult to God to say this as a trite phrase. If you are going to say it, say it by the power of the Holy Spirit.)

To a dedicated and dogmatic Atheist, the following will seem to be thought-terminating clichés when they are not:

  • "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." Job 1:21
  • "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!" (opposing same-sex marriage)
  • "That's not Biblical."
  • "God moves/works in mysterious ways."
  • "God never gives you more suffering than you can bear.”
  • "Only God can judge."
  • "God has a plan."
  • "The Lord works in mysterious ways."

Although these were once listed on the infamous Wikipedia as examples of thought-terminating clichés, each one has deep spiritual meaning. They are never made to use lightly. Of course, any word that is not spoken by the leading and power of the Holy Spirit is sin and leads us away from God. When such phrases are used by habit or do not proceed from the leading of the Holy Spirit, they may be examples of thought-terminating clichés. Thought-terminating clichés, to be fallacies, must cut off further thought. Most of these Wikipedia examples would actually spur further thought and cause an open-minded person to seek the mind of God on the issue.

To an Atheist, "That's not Biblical." is a "so-what" saying. They have no idea that God speaks through Scripture. Well, they do know. God has revealed that they know on some level, but their senseless minds are darkened.

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Thought-Terminating Cliché / Cliché Thinking

"Evolution is science."

The statement has the purpose of ending the discussion. It is false. Evolution is not science. Evolution is an intricate story. This thought-terminating cliché is designed to create a false impression and end discussion. It's purpose is end all questioning of the Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story. No thinking allowed.

"God is dead."

This is supposed to be a clever statement that will end discussion and all thought. Those of us who personally know the Creator God are aware that this is a lie. However, it is designed to somehow influence some people into believing the lie.

 

 


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