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Arguing a Minor Point and Ignoring the Main Point


Logical Fallacy of Arguing a Minor Point and Ignoring the Main Point

The logical fallacy of arguing a minor point and ignoring the main point occurs when a side issue receives the focus in order to shift attention away form the real issue. This is a kind of red herring.

Examples of the Logical Fallacy of Arguing a Minor Point and Ignoring the Main Point

Rocky: "I don't believe that human beings are related to monkeys."

Sandy: "That is a straw man argument. Evolution does not teach that humans descended from monkeys. Both groups descended from a common ape-like ancestor. Now see? You have to resort to such tactics because you have no real argument."

Sandy totally ignores the point while quibbling about a minor, and ever-changing, point of evolutionary story-telling. Rocky says that evolutionists believe that we are related to monkeys—which it does. There was a time when they said that the human genome was very similar to the chimp genome, which has now been refuted. Now, they claim that humans and apes both developed from the same unknown ape-like creature. The point is this: Is there any conclusive proof for either evolutionistic story?

The following was posted in a "Being Liberal’s" graphic on facebook:

If common sense was used in government, and the U.S.

citizen: "I don't believe in abortion."

government: "Then don't have one."

citizen: "I don't believe in birth control."

government: "You don't have to use it."

citizen: "I think gay marriage is sin."

government: "Don't marry the same sex then."

citizen: "I want my kids to learn about creationism."

government: "Take them to church then."

This is a red herring that was posted in a "Being Liberal’s" graphic on facebook. These send you chasing a non-issues while ignoring the real issue. Atheists are using the government to indoctrinate kids in the religious view of the story of evolution and moral relativism.  Ungodly people are forcing Christians to pay for abortions and birth control, and forcing Christian pastors and business people to help with gay marriage. There is no equal protection for all beliefs under the law. There is increasing governmental pressure to prevent Christians from even saying that sin is sin.

In addition, this is a fallacy of appeal to common sense. Just to say that something is "common sense" is not proof of anything. In this sense, "common sense" consists of deep deception.


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