False dilemma (“either … or”)

Spiritual importance

Can you think of any other possibilities for each of the following?

“Either you have faith, or you are rational.”

“The Bible vs. science.”

“The Bible teaches that ‘in Christ all things hold together’ (Colossians 1:17). But we now know that the forces of gravity and electromagnetism are what hold the universe together.”

“You must not really believe that God is going to answer your request for healing; otherwise you would not have gone to the doctor.”

Perhaps the most common example of this fallacy occurs with the topic of salvation – “Either we’re saved by grace or by works!”

Salvation by grace only is a core doctrine of many churches.

Compare Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:24. Make sure you avoid the equivocation fallacy in regard to the word “works” in these passages.

Special pleading

What is it?

Proverbs 20:23

“Special pleading is the fallacy of applying a double standard.”

Spiritual importance

Romans 2:1-3, 17-24

Notice the hypocrisy in Matthew 23:3-4. Could that sort of thing happen to so-called Christians today?

Evaluate the declaration “You shouldn’t judge people!”