Month: June 2026

This flowchart commits several logical fallacies…

1. False Dilemma

It presents only two options:

1. You follow the Bible, therefore you can’t criticize Muhammad.
2. You don’t follow the Bible, therefore you’re not a Christian.

Those are not the only possibilities. A Christian can follow the Bible and not reach your conclusion, particularly if they don’t hold to Sola Scriptura. For example, they can include natural moral reasoning and historical evidence to evaluate any historical figure.

2. Non Sequitur

Even if the Bible never explicitly states an “age of consent,” it does not follow that every marriage at every age is therefore morally acceptable. That’s like saying: “The Bible never gives a speed limit, therefore reckless driving cannot be immoral.”

3. Argument from Silence

The argument assumes: “Because Scripture doesn’t explicitly prohibit X, Scripture approves X.” but silence is not approval The Bible never mentions heroin, identity theft, or child labor either, yet Christians can still conclude these are wrong by applying biblical principles.

4. Category Error

The Bible is not primarily writing a modern civil law code with every possible regulation. Christian morality applies Christian principles to situations the Bible never explicitly names.

5. False Equivalence

The comparison ignores a major theological difference – Christians do not believe every action recorded in Scripture is morally exemplary. The Bible records David’s adultery, Solomon’s polygamy, Jephthah’s vow, and many other sinful actions without approving them.

By contrast, many Muslims regard Muhammad as the perfect moral example for all generations (Qur’an 33:21). Therefore, questions about Muhammad’s actions carry a different theological significance than merely asking whether something appears in biblical history.

6. The Historical Question Isn’t Addressed

The chart never actually answers the criticism: Was consummating a marriage with Aisha when she was very young morally right?

Soon I should be able to say “I’m in better shape in my forties than at any other time!” This past year I lost 25.5 lbs and finally have my blood pressure consistently in the “Normal” range.

In case you’re interested, here are the things I’ve been doing…

Weight

• 45 minute workout with my brother-in-law twice a week:
  • 2-3 mile run, core, and weights
  • Swim 600 meters, interval running, core, and weights
• No eating after dinner until breakfast – no pre-bed snack or midnight eating.
• Healthy snacks
• Waiting until really hungry to eat
• Protein for breakfast before having any caffeine
• Ground flax seeds
• 30 push-ups each day
• Cold shower

Blood Pressure

• 7 minutes of exercise after breakfast: wall sits, planks, calf raises, squats, jacks, arm swings, and slow breathing
• 20 minute morning walk
• Less caffeine
• Drink hibiscus tea
• https://www.youtube.com/@DrAlexWibberley

Facebook has recently started sharing posts from a guy whose “ministry” is trying to convince everyone to do polygamy. There’s lots of ways to respond to such an appeal, but as is my way, I use a variation of The Dog Which Never Barked.

I point out that for 1,500 years after Pentecost the Church universally taught against polygamy and instead taught monogamy. Why? There were plenty of disputes in the Early Church, but never about this issue. So, either…

(1) The Apostles taught monogamy and rejected polygamy

(2) The Apostles taught polygamy but their teaching was lost immediately and without the slightest trace

Which is more likely and which nullifies the promises of Christ regarding His Church?

“For now it is possible for men and women who were once only permitted to marry many wives to be satisfied with one.”

– Justin Martyr (c. AD 100–165), Dialogue with Trypho

“One man should possess one wife, and one wife should possess one husband.”

– Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150–215), Stromata

“We indeed are forbidden to marry more than once.”

– Tertullian (c. AD 155–220), On Exhortation to Chastity

The earliest person I’ve found to offer any kind of concession to polygamy is Martin Luther in 1522… but even then…

(a) he only allowed it in certain restricted circumstances (a rich nobleman – make of that what you will)

(b) and he still said that monogamy was the ideal

1. The Bible begins with a marriage between one man and one woman. This is the standard to which Jesus returns in the New Testament when speaking about marriage, correcting one of the allowances granted by Moses, namely divorce.

2. Polygamy begins with a violent man from the evil line of Cain – not exactly someone you want to immitate.

3. At no point is polygamy is not mandated by God

4. The fruits of polygamous marriages and concubinage are repeatedly bad:

(a) Abraham’s marriage to Hagar alongside Sarah leads to family conflict (Genesis 16).

(b) Jacob’s marriages to Leah and Rachel produce jealousy and rivalry (Genesis 29–30).

(c) Elkanah’s wives, Hannah and Peninnah, experience conflict (1 Samuel 1).

(d) Solomon’s many wives contribute to his spiritual downfall (1 Kings 11).

5. The Law discourages the King form multiplying wives (Deuteronomy 17:17)

6. The prophets use singular marriage imagery (Hosea, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) as with St. Paul (Ephesians 5:23)

7. The New Testament church leadership assumes monogamy (1 Timothy 3:2;12)

Whenever I mention that there are different versions of the Qur’an, I’m asked for examples. Here are my three favourites:

Qu’ran 10:16

Would it have been made known to you, or not?

If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, He would have made it known to you… (Qunbul)

If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, He would NOT have made it known to you… (Hafs)

Qu’ran 37:12

Who was surprised?

“But I (Allah) wonder, while they mock” (Khalaf from Hamza)

“But YOU (Muhammad) wonder, while they mock” (Hafs)

Qu’ran 2:184

If you skip a fast, how many poor people do you have to feed? One or more?

For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding a needy person (Hafs)

For those who can only fast with extreme difficulty, compensation can be made by feeding needy people (Warsh)