Questioning Paul is a Slippery Slope and Other Fallacies
The Fallacy of the Slippery Slope: Why Questioning Paul is Not a Crime
When we started questioning the writings attributed to Paul, we got slammed from the pulpit by our so-called “pastor.” Ironically, I’ve seen the exact same thing happen in the Torah and Faith community. Brothers and sisters, this should not be happening! Attacking someone for questioning anything is counterproductive—unless, of course, your goal is to push them away from the community and the support it provides. Spoiler alert: attacking is not supportive. Using fallacies to silence honest questions only weakens your argument.
The most common accusation thrown at questioners is, “It’s a slippery slope to question Paul.” Last time I checked, Paul was not the Most High. Elevating him beyond his station is a fallacy. No one is above questioning—not you, not me, and certainly not the writings attributed to Paul.
What is a Slippery Slope Fallacy Anyway?
Anyone who has taken a college-level logic class knows that reasoning errors—aka fallacies—lead people to believe misleading, unstable, or downright flimsy arguments. In other words, false logic supports their claim, and when you examine it closely, it collapses like a house of cards.
Many fallacies—like the strawman, slippery slope, ad hominem, or red herring—appear in full force during political speeches. The root of “fallacy” is “false,” so when someone uses a fallacy to support their argument, they’re using—you guessed it—false logic. Let’s take a quick tour of the 15 types of fallacies and how they are used to defend the writings attributed to Paul.
1. Slippery Slope
This fallacy assumes that one action will automatically and inevitably lead to a disastrous outcome. The argument follows a pattern like this:
- If you question Paul, you will question the Bible.
- If you question the Bible, you will reject faith.
- If you reject faith, you will fall into total depravity and doom!
The slippery slope fallacy insists that a minor action must lead to an extreme result, regardless of evidence. This is the go-to argument against anyone questioning Paul’s writings. And guess what? It’s nonsense.
2. Strawman
Think of the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. This fallacy misrepresents an opponent’s argument, making it easier to attack. Instead of defending their stance, they twist the questioner’s argument into something it never was and destroy that fake version instead. It’s intellectual dishonesty at its finest.
3. Ad Hominem
Latin for “against the man,” this fallacy attacks a person instead of addressing the actual argument. Politicians love this one, but unfortunately, so do some in the Torah Faith community.
4. Red Herring
This is a classic distraction tactic. Just like a smelly red herring could throw a hunting dog off its trail, this fallacy shifts the conversation to an irrelevant topic. Politicians use this when they don’t want to answer tough questions. We encountered this one a lot while searching for answers—plenty of distractions, but no real answers.
5. Appeal to Ignorance
Ignorance means you don’t know something. That’s not an argument—it’s just a fact. This fallacy assumes that if something hasn’t been proven false, it must be true (or vice versa). If Paul’s letters don’t perfectly align with Torah, does that mean the Bible is unreliable? Nope. That’s just more false logic.
6. Appeal to Authority
This fallacy uses an authority figure to support an argument, whether or not they are actually an expert. Just because a council of men decided which books to include in the Bible does not mean their decisions were divinely inspired.
7. Appeal to Pity
This argument seeks sympathy rather than presenting actual evidence. “If you question Paul, you’ll hurt people’s faith!” While sympathy is nice, it’s not proof.
8. Tu Quoque (“You Too”)
This is the hypocrisy fallacy—deflecting criticism by accusing the opponent of doing the same thing. Ever notice how both political parties use this on a daily basis?
9. False Dilemma
Also known as the black-or-white fallacy, this argument falsely limits options. If you disregard Paul’s writings, are your only choices to reject the Messiah or abandon faith completely? Nope! There are plenty of other possible outcomes.
10. Equivocation
This fallacy uses ambiguous language to mislead or manipulate. It’s like trying to pin down a politician’s stance—it keeps shifting!
11. Bandwagon
“Everyone believes it, so it must be true!” Just because an idea is popular doesn’t make it correct. The Torah Faith community is not immune to this herd mentality.
12. Hasty Generalization
This fallacy makes sweeping claims without sufficient evidence. This is like seeing a bunch of black swans on a lake and thinking all swans are black. “Everyone who questions Paul loses their faith!” Really? Show me the data.
13. Circular Argument
A circular argument is when someone claims:
- “Paul’s writings are true because the Bible says so.”
- “The Bible is true because Paul’s writings are included.”
See the problem? There’s no external evidence—just a loop.
14. Sunk Cost Fallacy
This is the “sticking with a sinking ship” argument. Some refuse to question Paul’s writings because they’ve invested too much time and belief in them. But if something doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, it’s okay to change course.
15. Causal Fallacy
This fallacy assumes a cause-and-effect relationship without evidence. “You questioned Paul, and now you’re confused. Therefore, questioning Paul causes confusion!” Correlation is not causation.
The Problem with the Slippery Slope Argument
I used to believe questioning Paul could cause people to lose faith. Then I took that concern to the Most High, and the Holy Spirit revealed the truth. The slippery slope fallacy is, pardon the expression, hogwash.
If disregarding Paul’s letters causes someone to lose faith in the rest of the Bible, their faith wasn’t in the Word or Yeshua—it was in Paul. Many councils decided which books belonged in the Bible, and different canons exist. So, which one is correct? Were the books they removed no longer inspired? How does that even work?
No one has used the Word to support Paul’s writings because, except for Paul’s own words, the rest of Scripture contradicts them. We’re still studying this issue, but one thing is clear: faith should be in Elohim, not in Paul, the Council of Nicaea, or any preacher.
A Call to Action
We must stop attacking one another. Whether someone believes Paul’s letters are authoritative or not, they are not necessary to understand the Word. Instead of tearing each other down, we should be testing all things. So, I challenge you—dig deeper, ask hard questions, and seek truth without fear. The Word can withstand scrutiny. Can you?
Recommended Tools for Your Spiritual and Health Journey
If you are searching for an assembly where questioning anything the Bible does not result in abuse, I encourage you to check out Ross K Nichols’ Youtube. He also has an after-class discussion that you can get in on if you are a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can still watch an hour of the after-class discussion on this Youtube channel: Horeb
If you’re serious about nourishing your body and soul, consider investing in a quality grain mill and bread machine. Freshly milled grain makes a huge difference in homemade bread! Check out my top picks on Amazon:
- Best Mixer: Kitchen Aid Mixer
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- Best Blender: Vitamix 5200 Blender
Also, don’t forget to browse my other articles and recipes for more inspiration on healthy living and spiritual growth!
How to Make Whole Wheat Bread in a Bread Machine(Opens in a new browser tab)
Bug-Free Grains: How to Keep Your Bulk Grains Safe and Sound(Opens in a new browser tab)
Grains in Bulk: Healthier, Cheaper, and Sustainable
Questioning Paul is a Slippery Slope…and Other Fallacies(Opens in a new browser tab)
The Dangers of Abusive Church Leadership(Opens in a new browser tab)
Anointed Appointed: Beware of Cult Behavior in Religious Groups(Opens in a new browser tab)
The Power of Words: Healing Through Faith(Opens in a new browser tab)
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