The Atheism Fallacy - Part I

Regardless of differences in belief, it is no coincidence that the vast majority of the world holds some concept of a Higher Power. If the atheist arguments were that clear, obvious, and logical as they assert, they would not still be the minority six thousand years late.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Research
Source & Credit: Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | July 11, 2010

As long as there have been believers in God, there have been those who have disbelieved in God.  One, among several, objections atheists propose is the "No True Scotsman Theory."

This theory describes a Scotsman who reads about a murder in a neighboring country.  He immediately declares that no Scotsman would commit such a horrible crime.  The next day, he reads about a Scotsman who commits murder.  Rather than recanting his previous statement, he states that the murderer was simply not a true Scotsman.

Atheists juxtapose this theory to demonstrate that believers in God praise adherents to their faith, but quickly dismiss those who lie, cheat, steal, and kill as 'not true believers.'  Rather, atheists argue that this is a flaw in the scripture, as a truly All-Knowing God would have foreseen the confusion and would have revealed a more perfect scripture without any ambiguity.  Therefore, because believers in God commit just about every sin and crime disbelievers in God commit, this is evidence of the fallacy of scripture, and thus the fallacy in the belief in God.


Valid Concern, Flawed Argument

In this multi-part series, we will demonstrate that the No True Scotsman Theory, like most every atheist argument, is fundamentally flawed on several levels.  For this we will use history, logic, and common sense.  We will also use the Holy Qur'an to demonstrate that such atheist arguments are not new or unique in any regard.

Rather, as mentioned, as long as believers in God have existed, there have been disbelievers in God.  It is because God continually sends guidance and logic through His Prophets that people continued to believe in Him.  It was that logic and common sense that has helped believers in God so successfully rebuke atheist arguments for some six millennium.  I'm reminded of one of my favorite Biblical verses from the Gospel of Luke.

"And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (Luke 21:13-15)

Regardless of differences in belief, it is no coincidence that the vast majority of the world holds some concept of a Higher Power.  If the atheist arguments were that clear, obvious, and logical as they assert, they would not still be the minority six thousand years later.  In every phase of society throughout history, man has deemed himself to be at the pinnacle of his development.  Any assumption that only now in recent history has man developed faculties to recognize there is no God contradicts the very notion atheists assert that disbelief in God is obvious.  If it was so obvious, it's recognition shouldn't have required 21st century mental advancement.

Religion always began as minority, and always became majority - unlike atheism

On the other hand, every religion, when founded, was the vast minority without exception.  Every Prophet faced brutal persecution, without exception.  Yet, over time, because that religion was from God, He ensured it's establishment and growth through logic and common sense.

The Fourth Khalifa of Islam Ahmadiyyat, Mirza Tahir Ahmad writes, "Swords can win territories but not hearts. Force can bend heads but not minds."  The unfounded arguments that religion, at its onset, was spread by force is a farce.  While some religion was spread by force at some point in history, the very fact that force was used when it was already demonstrates that the religion had become dominant, powerful—and political.  In other words, it was not the religion that commanded its adherents to spread by force.  Rather, it was the political corruption of religious leadership that used the religion as an excuse to spread it by force.

We digress our intro and begin with the most obvious flaw of the No True Scotsman Theory, that the actions of one reflect the whole.  Rest assured this multi-part series will discuss many of the points mentioned above as well.  Feel free to leave your comments, and do subscribe to receive the upcoming parts.


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