Common Sense

The Consider the Trees Apologetic

Photo by Masiyah on Unsplash

This article is one of a series of articles introduced by Flawed Reasons to Believe in God. If you’re new to the series, you should read the Introduction before (or after) reading the material below.

What does “common sense” mean? Webster’s Dictionary says it means “ sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts.” In today’s hyperpartisan atmosphere, situations and facts vary along tribalism’s lines. In the post-fact world, what’s a fact or situation is open to dramatic interpretation. So, “Using your common sense” often means thinking precisely as the person speaking does.

The appeal to common sense fallacy is another name for the argument from incredulity. It’s not specific to trees. It includes all claims that there must be a God because ______ could only be done by supernatural magic. In the hundreds of such arguments I have encountered in my 40 years of debunking religious apologetics, none have been actual or potential requisites for magic. Naturalistic explanations were available for each. So, common sense for me did not include accepting supernatural claims for phenomena or things that seem challenging to explain.

The Bible claims that God makes the wind to blow, rains to fall, clouds to appear and disappear, stars to shine, the sun to give light…