the Logical Fallacy of Demonizing

The logical fallacy of demonizing occurs when an ad hominem attack is made in such a way as to portray the opposing side as wicked or threatening rather than discussing the issue at hand using sound reasoning.

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Demonizing

Bill Nye arguing against Creation science: “that the Bible serves as a science text and he [Ken Ham] and his followers will interpret that for you,”

Bill Nye again uses this ad hominem fallacy and innuendo to try to convey an idea that Ken Ham is some sort of little cult leader, but God's Spirit is much bigger than Ken Ham. What God is doing in the Earth is much bigger than a single person. There are no big shots in the Body of Christ. Some have more responsibility, though. As far as Bill's false innuendo that very few believe God as He speaks through Scripture, according to recent polls, about 45 percent of Americans say they believe in creation. These are productive contributors to society and many are scientists in such fields as chemistry, physics, engineering, medicine, etc. (source) Bill Nye is attempting to demonize and marginalize, to paint Ken Ham as some sort of cult leader with a few misguided followers. Both demonizing and marginalizing are logical fallacies meant to play to the crowd rather than to deal rationally with the issue at hand. In addition, Bill Nye used the fallacy of the outright lie by implying that Ken Ham is the leader of those who believe the Bible. Jesus Christ is the leader and always will be, and Ken Ham is a follower of Christ. A lot of people know about Ken because of the work that he does, but there are many other people who are also serving Christ in various ways who do equally important, believing God as He leads, and knowing that the history that God wrote into the Bible through His holy prophets is without error. Bill Nye is also committing the logical fallacy of appeal to emotion, trying to incite emotion against Ken Ham by implying that Ken Ham is trying to control them. What Ken Ham said was that it is reasonable to compare the big-bang-billions-of-years-molecules-to-man story, which is based on arbitrary assumptions, to the revelation that God is speaking to us through the Bible. And the revelation fits the scientific facts, while the big-bang-billions-of-years-molecules-to-man story does not fit the facts.

Richard Dawkins: "It is fashionable to wax apocalyptic about the threat to humanity posed by the AIDS virus, mad cow disease, and many others, but I think a case can be made that faith is one of the world’s great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate."

Richard Dawkins is using the logical fallacy of demonizing. He does this quite frequently. What he doesn't realize is that no matter how hard he tries, he cannot fight and beat his Creator God. When he uses the word, faith, he doesn't use it as God uses it through the Bible. There are various kinds of faith. The faith of God, the real faith, comes by hearing and acknowledging God as He speaks.

Richard Dawkins: "Many of us saw religion as harmless nonsense. Beliefs might lack all supporting evidence but, we thought, if people needed a crutch for consolation, where's the harm? September 11th changed all that."

Most people don't realize just how angry the new Atheists are. Consider their attack against what they call "religion." They exclude themselves from "religion." However, they are as angry as terrorists and more determined than the most "religious" of people. How would we define "religion?" One dictionary give: "a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance." Who doesn't have something that is the most important thing for themselves? Is it possible that there might be a person who doesn't view something as important? Here is another definition: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods." By that one, the Atheists are free and clear, simply by the insertion of the word, superhuman, which eliminates all humans. However, many religions have worshipped humans. And Humanism (Atheism) worships humans and the human mind. Another definition is: "a particular system of faith and worship." Does worship have to take place in a special place? Martin Luther said that worship is work. Where do you put your effort? Faith is of two types. One is that faith that is a gift of God that comes when God speaks and we acknowledge Him. This is Christian faith. There is another kind of faith, the faith that is a belief without any evidence. This is the faith of the Atheist.