Refuting Theist Arguments - Negative Proof

Many theists will often fall back on a few common arguments when they cannot refute an atheist's points and counter-points.
This video is about one argument that theists often fall back on:
The 'You can't prove that God doesn't exist, so god exists' argument.

The problem with this argument is that it is a negative proof fallacy.
The fallacy of appealing to lack of proof of the negative follows the following basic form:
X is true, because there is no proof that X is false.

Examples of arguments that are based on this fallacy:
-Superman exists because you can't prove that he doesn't.
-Pink elephants exist because you can't prove that they don't.
-Sentient hot dogs exist, because you can't prove that they do not.

From these basic counter-examples we can clearly see why appealing to lack of proof of the negative is a logical fallacy.
This also brings up another extremely important point: the burden of proof.

It is important to remember that the burden of proof rests with the individual who makes the claim.
EX. If I claim that pink elephants exist, then I am the one who has to prove that they exist.
The burden of proof is not on everyone else to disprove my claim; the burden is on he who makes the claim (me).

The same applies to God (or any other claim).
If someone asserts or claims that their God is real, then it is up to them to provide proof.
Other individuals do not have to disprove such a claim; the person who makes the claim has to prove it.

To all theists who use the 'you can't prove that god doesn't exist' argument: this is why your logic is flawed.
This is why atheists will often tell you that you that you are not engaging in logical debate.
If you want to engage in intellectual discourse, then please think out the logic of your arguments and provide evidence for your claims.

P.S. It is logically imposible to prove a neagtive.

Category:

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Tags:

• refute
• refuting
• theist
• theism
• atheist
• atheism
• negative
• proof
• fallacy
• religion
• religious
• god
• deity

[ruffomaldito]

I like your simple straightforward vid. I would like to get one thing straight. How does one prove (or disprove) that a "thought" exists. I´ve never seen one. It doesn´t occupy space.

[GreenDragon23]

A good, and deeply philosophical question.

Since thoughts are merely specific distributions of neuronal firing, the only fairly solid way to show that a particular thought itself exists is to communicate it via symbols (some kind of language).

Very interesting question...

However, disproving the existence of a thought is impossible, since one cannot logically prove a negative.

[killerspud1234]

this is a pretty old argument dude. use some new logic. the negative proof fallacy was found centuries ago. u may be the only atheist naive enough to still cite it. other aheists hve much better arguments

[GreenDragon23]

lol

Tell that to the theists; I made this video because many theists engage in a negative proof fallacy.

You might be too arrogant/out-of-touch to realize this, but that is your problem.

The fact is that theists still use it (just liek they still use Pascal's wager, even though it has been torn to shreds) - and if they still use it, they still need to be refuted.

Its that simple.

[KingTheist23]

I would add that while it is true that people of various religions have used it as a excuse for war, against medicine etc. that does not mean that those people actually understand the religion they cite as their excuse. No where in the Bible does it say to deny your child of medical care if they are sick, and yet for some strange reason a select group of people think that somehow it is wrong to treat the ill. This is ignorance, not faith.

[WankershireEngland]

Well the problem here is that you're assuming theists are in any way interested in logic and reason. The mere fact that they believe in absurd fantasies illustrates that they are not.

[sailornaruto39]

@GreenDragon23 excuse me but what do you mean prove a negative? proof that something doesn't exist?

[drrobertoboogie97]

"It is logically impossible to prove a negative." You're wrong here. I can prove that there are no married bachelors. I can prove that there are no odd numbers divisible by 2. I can prove that there is no finite infinity. How? By reductio ad absurdum i.e. the method of disproving claims absurd or contradictory.

[monkeytail2002]

Sentient hot dogs did exist but then I bought a hot dog rotisserie....

[stej33]

Not all people who say God exists uses the ''Prove he doesnt'' as proof, many christians now who witness and experience the presence of God and are healed in the name of Jesus Christ have obvious physical evidence that defies modern day science and physics, also ther are many placesin the bible that are mentioned that still stand 2day and are exactly the way the bible claims, Sodom and Gamorra is covered in craters, Mount sinai blackened on top on much more. There is plenty of evidence out there

[brrapscrollcheck]

Can I not prove something doesn't exists by proving that it does exist? If I prove that the acceleration of freefall on earth is 9.81ms^2 then have I not proved that it isn't something else?

[bIueviper]

Sir, You are exactly right! Im glad there are people like you! I gave 5 Stars by the way.

[m1garand00]

So, i know you have a good point about that type of argument, but to be honest. The fact that the love of so many communities and broken people have turned to the belief in God, science does not add on to a humans anything other than the fact he's there to act and die. God offers a person transformation in their heart, not of the physical being. And as well what purpose have you made this video for?

[MrMindfucker]

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