CONTENTS

Introduction
Sellers' Market
Will to Believe
Rules of Thumb

"The truth is out there "
Use & misuse of words
False information signals more false information
Technical whiz-bang
Understand the Context
Lies, More Lies, Damn Lies and Newspapers
Beware of Generalizations
Theology and scripture
Misleading Statistics
Smoke in your eyes:
What is Missing?
Myth versus fact versus narrative
The past was not like the present; the future will be different

Fallacy Recognition in the Middle East

Fallacies and Arguments
Cause and Effect
Slippery Slope
Gambler's Fallacy
Ad Hominem
Authority
Beliefs
Appeal to Novelty
Appeal to Emotion
Appeal to Tradition
False Dilemma or Black and White Thinking
Special Pleading
The Spotlight Fallacy
Who is to Say?

Fallacy Handbook

Beware of arguments based on theology and scripture, unless you are really thoroughly acquainted with both. Scripture is subject to interpretation as well as mistranslation. Does the Qur'an really say that Islam will vanquish other religions, or does it say that the truth of Islam will "prevail"? Are Muslims really forced by their religious beliefs to conquer the entire world? If so, why haven't they tried to do so for most of history?

The Qur'an says this about religious compulsion:

In Sura 2, al-baqarrah (the Cow):

But elsewhere in Sura 2 The Quran states:

190: Fight in the cause of Allah with those who fight against you, but do not exceed the limits. Allah does not like transgressors...

193: Fight against them until there is no more disorder and Allah's supremacy is established. If they desist, let there be no hostility except against the oppressors.[193]

So there is "no compulsion," but one must fight until Allah's supremacy is established. We can quote different parts of any holy book to prove any point we wish to prove, and it has been done on many occasions.

Do Jews really put out the eyes of offenders? Why not? It says so in the Torah, doesn't it? "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But what is written, and the way it is interpreted by different believers, are different things. Are all Christians who support Israel fanatics who believe in converting the Jews and in starting a war in order to bring about the coming of the Messiah? Ask Christians who support Israel, and you will get many different opinions.