The notorious tendency of conservative apologists and New…
“The notorious tendency of conservative apologists and New Age paperback writers alike is to leap from mere possibility to the right to believe. "If there might be space aliens, we can assume there are." "If the idea of Atlantis is not impossible, we can take it for granted." "If the traditional view of gospel authorship cannot be definitievely debunked, we can go right on assuming it's truth." No, you can't.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Assuming something is true just because it cannot be disproved leads to faulty reasoning and belief without evidence.
In simple terms: Belief without proof is unreliable.
Key Takeaway
Demand evidence before accepting claims.
Themes
critical thinking
skepticism
epistemology
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- debates on extraterrestrials
- historical claims
- theological authorship
- science communication
Key Concepts
burden of proof
logical fallacy
confirmation bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would change your mind?
- How do you differentiate possibility from probability?
A Different Perspective
Assumption may be useful as a hypothesis but not as proof.