Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

Has anyone ever been accused of circular reasoning when debating a non-believer and how did you overcome or refute the charge?

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

Without faith in someone's life our reasoning may be circular; if I understand what is meant by circular reasoning. A point I like to make is if I am wrong a person has lost nothing, but are benefited by the christian principles we live by. If I am right they will have inherited eternal life. It is a win,win. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

A circular argument is saying something like, "I am right because I am right." If you are not arguing that way, then explain what a circular argument is and explain why you're not doing that. Maybe you are arguing circularly. Give an example of your argument.

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

An atheist may say we are being circular when we say things like "The Bible says some X"; therefore that X proves the Bible is true". No actual proof is presented in such speech. To be circular in one's reasoning is to always circle back to the premise of an argument to prove the validity of the conclusion. It's very related to begging the question, or petitio principe.

It is a logical fallacy that needs to be avoided.

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

At the end of the day our Christian faith is just that, based on faith. I don't think you can logically convince a atheist. You can defuse and answer a lot of their questions but they need a supernatural touch of God from having a honest heart and being a true seeker to be reached.

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

Amen, Beloved. We are not called to convince, but to preach.

The Holy Spirit will do the convicting on them that are called to eternal life.

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

I have discussions almost daily on a high level, bay area, ham radio repeater with a 68 year old avowed athiest that is a total jerk...LOL

The guy, along with many other athiest hams are venomously attacking me.(but they like me)

Here is why.

I dont say "when I got saved" to any of them, but I always say "when I received the Holy Ghost".

They have implored me to say "Jesus" or "God" rather than "Holy Ghost".

I realized that all folks claim Jesus or God to be with them, or that He at least existed, but the Holy Ghost is foreign to them. When they see I have something that they dont, they get VISIBLY jealous.

They(athiests) might say "you were a bad person, therefore you need it" and I say, "indeed I was worse than them". So I tell them "I was hand picked by God to receive it".

They come unglued when I say that....LOL

Now whenever they hear me, they think of the Holy Ghost, tongue talker tradesman that can articulate in any conversation that they can, but the only guy in the group with the Holy Ghost.

Try it sometime....Never say "when I became a believer or Christian or was saved", but just make a habit of saying "when I received the Holy Ghost"(dont say Holy Spirit though).

You will immediately stir up questions from anyone regarding the Holy Ghost...Even from the religious folks!

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

Most people have no idea what that even means.

Description: A type of reasoning in which the proposition is supported by the premises, which is supported by the proposition, creating a circle in reasoning where no useful information is being shared. This fallacy is often quite humorous.
Logical Form:
X is true because of Y.
Y is true because of X.
Example #1:
Pvt. Joe Bowers: What are these electrolytes? Do you even know?
Secretary of State: They're... what they use to make Brawndo!
Pvt. Joe Bowers: But why do they use them to make Brawndo?
Secretary of Defense: [raises hand after a pause] Because Brawndo's got electrolytes.
Explanation: This example is from a favorite movie of mine, Idiocracy, where Pvt. Joe Bowers (played by Luke Wilson) is dealing with a bunch of not-very-smart guys from the future. Joe is not getting any useful information about electrolytes, no matter how hard he tries.
http://www.logicallyfallacious.com/i...ular-reasoning

I usually just point out nothing is true just because they say so (another circular argument), so PROVE that what I said is a circular argument

Re: Overcoming accusations of circular reasoning.
 

1. By ceasing to use circular arguments

2. By showing that the same reasoning they are using to call your argument circular also applies to their argument (one method of doing 3)

3. By showing that they are mistaken and that your argument isn't actually circular