Diminished Responsibility Fallacy

The Diminished Responsibility Fallacy occurs when it is falsely claimed that the offender is less responsible because of some factor.

Examples of the Diminished Responsibility Fallacy

Sandra: “I’m not responsible if I don’t really know that God exists. I would need to see some evidence first, so it’s not my fault. God can’t judge me for that if He’s just.”

Roxanne: “Didn’t you know that when I’m speaking to you I’m not speaking my own words? God says that you are without excuse if you refuse to acknowledge Him after He sent me to talk to you plus He gave you all the evidence in His creation. Had I not spoken to you about this, your responsibility would have been less.”

Sandra: “No. I just can’t know whether God exists. He should have done better.”

The reality is that those who are committed to following Christ also struggle with the fleshly nature that doesn’t want to acknowledge Christ and His leading and wants to rationalize it away and not give Him the glory. Yet, each of us is responsible.