Textbooks

[TBC: As the days pass, the attacks against the Bible become more violent and direct. Consider the following example from a textbook entitled "Invitation to Critical Thinking," which very possibly will find a place in classrooms in Canada. Each book costs the schools $59 each. "Critical Thinking" (which is not really thinking, but indoctrination) plays a major role in today's public schools. Consider the following comments from a conservative Christian columnist who was asked for permission to allow some of his own writings to be included in the textbook.]

...I began to read the sample pages the publisher sent to me.

Critical Thinking Tip 11.5 (these are instructions for the children at the top of the exercise)

Remember that issues are complex, so a diversion may on occasion be warranted and reasonable. A warranted and reasonable diversion should eventually return to the issue. Keep the issue(s) in mind. In other words, the teacher will decide what is to be a "warranted and reasonable diversion" and if you take a different path than the predetermined one, your argument will not be "warranted or reasonable."

Exercise 11.16 Fallacies of Relevance II

In each of the following examples, check all fallacy categories that apply. More importantly, explain each fallacious instance you identify.

EXAMPLE: AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED MAN, SAYING, “YOU MAY EAT FREELY OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN; BUT THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL YOU SHALL NOT EAT, FOR IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT YOU SHALL DIE.” (GENESIS 2:16-17)

(Here are the choices given the children to describe that statement) In what category does this example fit and why?

Appeal to anger -- Straw Person

Appeal to pity -- Common practice

Appeal to fear -- Two wrongs

My response to their request to grant them permission to use my article in this way was swift and to the point. "I’m sorry, but I will not grant permission to use my work in this way. Your 'textbook' is the root of the very curriculum I was talking about in the article you want to quote. Obviously the entire section of the book where my material was to appear is a critical discussion of Christianity. Your selections offered Appeal to anger; fear; pity; straw person; two wrongs; common practiceall are negatives. There is no room for a person to agree with the statements. I can only imagine the classroom discussion your teacher's guide will offer. This is not education, it is propaganda. Sorry, but no, I will not help you in perpetrating it on innocent minds. Shame on you for trying to call it education. Now, is my message an appeal to anger, fear or do I just pity you?"

(http://www.newswithviews.com/DeWeese/tom51.htm)