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 Someone
asked the hippy why he stood on the street corner snapping his
fingers. "To keep elephants away," he replied —
naturally. When the querist expressed doubt he was reminded,
"You don't see any elephants do you?" (I use 'em as
long as I remember 'em.)
More
recently I mentioned going on Social Security and an old timer
said, "Don't do it, brother Turner. I began to lose my
memory when I retired." Then he added, "It has made me
stronger though. Before I retired I could barely carry $20 in
groceries out to the car; but now I can carry a $50 order."
I expected him to tell me about his radio that was so old the
time signal it sounded was always late; but he spared me that
one.
We
are writing about NON-SEQUITUR fallacies, meaning, "it does
not follow." There may have been some other cause for the
absence of elephants on the street; for the loss of memory; for
the ability to carry groceries. (He may have been getting more
rest.) An inference that does not follow from the premise (not a
necessary inference) is non sequitur. We may even show that
certain conditions were present prior to what seemed to be their
effect — and not prove that these factors always had this
effect. The conscientious laboratory technician could
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give us many points here.
And
in religion, where one's soul may be at stake, it is extremely
important that we not get our exercise by jumping to conclusions
on insufficient evidence. (Maybe $50 buys less groceries now
than $20 once bought.)
A
motel manager showed me a photograph of a bush, where limbs,
shadows and light seemed to combine to make "the picture of
Christ." She freely acknowledged that no one knew how the
Christ appeared; yet this had become a major factor in her
religious life. For all we know, if it was a picture of
anything, it could have been the image of the devil.
Have
you not heard brethren solemnly declare that "Go" and
"Teach" authorize an organization of churches. How
could methods of travel, and of instruction, authorize
collective action of churches? It does not follow! "Paul
had a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit, therefore all
saints can work miracles, speak with tongues, or whatever."
It does not follow! Maybe we all should be more diligent in the
snapping of fingers. We certainly do not need a street full of
elephants.
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