Religion

MineralMan

(149,611 posts)

23. Well, I love polls about things that are unrelated

Thu Nov 29, 2018, 12:50 PM

Nov 2018

to public opinion. Science, for example. Polls about beliefs regarding, say the theory of evolution, are common. Some attempt to use such polls to argue against evolution, as though people's opinions about it have something to do with whether the theory is accurate or not.

For example, someone might quote a poll like this:

Does God Exist?

Polls show that 75% of people believe that there is a deity.

Someone might believe that such polls have some relevance to the question. They do not, of course. If someone argues that they do, they are illogical and have fallen prey to the ad populum fallacy.

We see such sophistry frequently presented here by some participants in this Group. When the fallacy is explained, they reject the argument. Odd, that.

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Exclusive poll: Most Americans say religion will live on [View all] guillaumeb Nov 2018 OP

It's really scary to think that many people PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #1

Some feel that theism is a problem. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #2

The article is about Americans. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #3

You are describing theists as delusional. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #4

Please do not impute something I did not say. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #5

When you said, in the context of this post: guillaumeb Nov 2018 #6

Was that a poll of Chinese people? Eko Nov 2018 #10

As always, you distort what is said. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #18

Dod you intend this to be an ad hominem attack? guillaumeb Nov 2018 #27

No. You misframed it, Guy! MineralMan Nov 2018 #28

Thank you, official spokesperson for the group. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #29

I speak only for myself, Guy. MineralMan Nov 2018 #32

No, you answered for another. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #33

.. MineralMan Nov 2018 #34

Much better. eom guillaumeb Nov 2018 #35

No, I spoke directly to you, dear. MineralMan Nov 2018 #38

As Mineral Man pointed out, PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #36

And as I poonted out, guillaumeb Nov 2018 #37

No, you did reframe it when PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #39

Given the post itself, guillaumeb Nov 2018 #40

No. You are not forgiven. PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #41

It does help explain it. Mariana Nov 2018 #7

The majority of people throughout history have been religious marylandblue Nov 2018 #8

Who did the poll exclude, Guy? MineralMan Nov 2018 #9

A good example of the ad populum fallacy, Guy. MineralMan Nov 2018 #11

It's probably his favorite, given how much he uses it. n/t trotsky Nov 2018 #22

Well, I love polls about things that are unrelated MineralMan Nov 2018 #23

Do we really want to base things on edhopper Nov 2018 #12

This is the dabate ground in the theism vs atheism issue. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #13

People are turning away from religion edhopper Nov 2018 #14

The future is as close as tomorrow. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #15

Is that from edhopper Nov 2018 #16

It could be, but I thought it while reading your post. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #25

What's my edhopper Nov 2018 #30

I just thought of it. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #31

That don't work! edhopper Nov 2018 #43

I will think of it again. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #44

That's not what the poll is asking Major Nikon Nov 2018 #17

Please try not to confuse the original poster. MineralMan Nov 2018 #20

I don't think he needs help Major Nikon Nov 2018 #21

The result you posted was not about being religious Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #19

What is your interpretation of this? Lordquinton Nov 2018 #24

Hell, I'm cheering on the decline of religion as much as anyone... trotsky Nov 2018 #26

What he posts often doesn't actually say what he claims Lordquinton Nov 2018 #42