Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Alonzo Fyfe · 08-30-2002, 06:10 AM

This fallacy even has a name.

Argumentum ad Verecundiam. (Appeal to improper authority.)

To the best of my knowledge, Red Skelton never acquired a degree in constitutional law. In fact, to the best of my ability to determine, he never even finished high school.

He was a great performer, with a performer's ability to get at people's emotions. But this does not mean that all of his political views had the same merit.

4th Generation Atheist · 08-30-2002, 02:05 PM

Most of those fraternal orders (Masons, Rosicrucians &c) are theistic organizations, but the "the" can be so bland as to nearly be unrecognizable. I think in the West anyway most members are Xn, with some Jews and a few Muslims. But there's traditionally also a big "deist" and/or "pantheist" contingent, some of whom I suspect are "stealth atheists" of the type who do not like to use that word, or "atheists" who still believe in some sort of mysticism other than a God. Their ritualistic and supernatural-y stuff would probably turn-off most strict materialists, tho.

(Masons in my Mom's family, tho my Dad wouldn't touch it with a nine-foot pole.)

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08-30-2002, 06:10 AM	#11
Alonzo Fyfe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 920B Milo Circle Lafayette, CO Posts: 3,515	This fallacy even has a name. Argumentum ad Verecundiam. (Appeal to improper authority.) To the best of my knowledge, Red Skelton never acquired a degree in constitutional law. In fact, to the best of my ability to determine, he never even finished high school. He was a great performer, with a performer's ability to get at people's emotions. But this does not mean that all of his political views had the same merit.

08-30-2002, 02:05 PM	#12
4th Generation Atheist Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tower of Ecthelion...by the Starbuck's Posts: 1,815	Most of those fraternal orders (Masons, Rosicrucians &c) are theistic organizations, but the "the" can be so bland as to nearly be unrecognizable. I think in the West anyway most members are Xn, with some Jews and a few Muslims. But there's traditionally also a big "deist" and/or "pantheist" contingent, some of whom I suspect are "stealth atheists" of the type who do not like to use that word, or "atheists" who still believe in some sort of mysticism other than a God. Their ritualistic and supernatural-y stuff would probably turn-off most strict materialists, tho. (Masons in my Mom's family, tho my Dad wouldn't touch it with a nine-foot pole.)

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