Dangerous Fallacies Commonly Used by Christian Apologists

The first thing that I want to say is that this is not an attack on Christian apologists. I firmly believe in the importance of Christian apologetics and I am an apologist myself.

But as an insider, I have found myself getting disillusioned by what apologists say and how they say it. I believe that apologists take seriously their role in strengthening the faith of believers and convincing skeptics that Christianity is true. I suspect that this weight can lead to apologists taking short cuts and offering arguments that are flawed.

What I have noticed in particular is that many Christian apologists fall into the trap of committing logical fallacies. They will critique their opponents based on these fallacies but not notice that they themselves are committing these fallacies.

Here are what I see to be the most common logical fallacies committed by Christian apologists. And yes, I have committed them as well.

Ad hominem

Sadly, this is often used not just against skeptics and critics but even between apologists. Apologists can be very convinced of their positions and when logical arguments are not effective, they may attack the person’s character.

I have seen this especially when speaking about exvangelicals, progressive Christians, and those who have deconstructed. While they could interact with their arguments, I have frequently seen the emphasis being on attacking their character and motives.

Straw man

I see the Straw man fallacy a lot. This is especially true when an apologist is trying to build up the confidence of Christians who are encountering skeptical arguments.

I am not an expert in every area, but I know enough about atheism and Islam to know that there is a market for apologists to misrepresent their positions because Christians in our churches will feel better as a result.

False dilemma

I understand the temptation of the false dilemma. In communicating with an audience, creating a sense of urgency is key. If people understand it is either this or a dangerous that, then they will pay attention.

One example is how people talk about biblical inerrancy. When some Christians question the way inerrancy has been taught, some others create the false dilemma that this could lead to rejecting even the resurrection of Jesus since nothing could be certain.

Slippery slope

I encounter the slippery slope all the time. If you even consider this idea, who knows what this could lead to. If you start putting an emphasis on helping the poor, what other aspect of the “liberal agenda” could be next? If you question a young earth, you might find yourself rejecting the entire Bible and embracing an evolution that has no place for God.

You can find slippery slopes everywhere. The slippery slope protects people from considering new ideas because every new idea can lead to something dangerous.

Appeal to authority

The appeal to authority is often misunderstood. There is nothing wrong with citing a respected biblical scholar or philosopher to support a position you hold. Scholars do this all the time.

The problem comes when you rely on someone who is an expert, but not on the topic being discussed. The person claims to see things with “fresh eyes” and what they say goes against the recognized consensus.

Is it possible the consensus is wrong? Of course, but the correction is more likely to come from those with training and credentials in these areas.

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I love Christian apologetics and I am thankful for my fellow apologists. But I truly believe we can do better. And I mean WE as I include myself in this.

Many of the people in our churches just want to “know” that they are on the right side. They want to know that their beliefs are correct and that our opponents are wrong.

Honestly, they do not care if we use logical fallacies as long as they can feel some assurance that what they believe is correct. But what happens when they look closer and understand the fallacies that have been committed?

The damage of taking shortcuts and easy ways can be much worse than a Christian struggling with some uncertainty. Apologists may examine critics for signs of fallacies, we must make sure that we give as much scrutiny to ourselves.