God of the Gaps Fallacy

The God of the gaps fallacy occurs when an argument from ignorance is used to prove the existence of God. This is generally pointing to the gaps in the Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story. Many of these gaps make the entire story impossible and require that additional stories be made up (stories known as ad hoc rescue fallacies). The gaps only prove that it is irrational to claim that the Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story is scientifically known. Who knows whether some of these seemingly insurmountable problems with the story may actually be solved? Christians never need to resort to fallacies because God has made His necessary truth obvious. Those who want to disprove God but resort to fallacies since they are trying to disprove truth. Concerning science, God has made His existence and his nature obvious through the things that He has created. There is no need to resort to arguments from ignorance. Jesus Christ also makes Himself known to everyone who genuinely and persistently seeks Him in respect, submission, sincerity. In fact, every person who follows Christ is led by Christ. We know Christ personally. He leads us moment-by-moment. And He reveals to us that the Bible is His Word and that it is without error. Then, He speaks to us through the Bible. And He speaks to us through others who are speaking by the Holy Spirit. "No on can say that Jesus is accursed by the Holy Spirit. And no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." So this fallacy is never needed and Christians ought to avoid it.

Examples of the God of the Gaps Fallacy

"If life never comes from non-life by natural means, then life must come from supernatural means (God). Life never comes form non-life. Therefore life must come from God."

While the notion that life could come from non-life is a bazaar hypothesis, the anything is possible fallacy tells us that it is still possible. And the proof by Naturalism fallacy tells us that the naturalistic (no God) solution is always the best answer. So, a confirmed Atheist would claim that life had to come from non-life. However, faith comes by hearing the rhema (Utterance) of God. God speaks into our innermost minds. When you look at creation, when you do science, you cannot help but hear His Voice. However, some people refuse to acknowledge Him because they love darkness rather than light.

"If you think that nothing exploded and became everything, explain how you think that could happen."

This could be an ad ignorantiam question. The question implies one of at least two things. One of the things that it could imply is that if you cannot answer this question without making any assumptions or telling any creative stories, you ought not to be dogmatic in belief in the Big Bang story. There is no fallacy committed if that is what is being implied. It is then not an ad ignorantiam question. Further, if this one question cannot be answered without any assumptions or story-telling, that means that it is irrational to disbelieve God. In fact, it makes the Creation-Flood historical account a much better scientific theory than the Big-Bang-Billions-of-Years-No-Flood-Molecules-to-Man story. However, if the questioner is implying that someone's inability to answer this question proves the existence of God, this is ad ignorantiam. God's existence is proven by His Holy Presence when you look at the wonder of His Creation. You can sense Him there. If you honor Him there, He will begin to lead you. If you respond in submission, you will begin to learn how to hear His Voice and how to respond in obedience and submission. This is what everyone who is following Christ is learning to do.

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God of the Gaps Fallacy

Examples of the God of the Gaps Fallacy

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