Logic
Fallacies

by Liam Aylor

1-20-26

Logic
Fallacies

by Liam Aylor

1-20-26

Keep Religion Out of Texas Public Schools

Reference Article

  • Published by ACLU Texas
  • By Author Erin Walter

www.aclutx.org/news/keep-religion-out-texas-public-schools

Introduction

  • Erin Walter's 2023 article argues Senate bills 1515, 1396, 1556, and 763.
  • According to Walters, these bills are intended to force Christian values into the public school system.

Introduction

  • She shares that her son is not part of any religion and is shamed at school for not having the same beliefs as his "conservative Christian" peers.
  • She states that Texas politicians are forcing state-sponsored religion into public schools and that these bills will only create hostility towards non-Christians.

FALLACIES

FALLACY #1: NON SEQUITUR

  • She talks about her son being bullied bc he doesn't have the christian beliefs his peers have
  • she then proposes right after that Texas politicians seek to empower this bullying by forcing state-sponsored religion
  • The fallacy occurs with the assumption that a state-sponsored bill will cause more bullying.
  • Bullying of any sort can happen regardless of any laws or bills.

FALLACY #2: Apriorism

  • “The same lawmakers banning books and censoring curricula now want to dictate what students worship.”
  • The fallacy occurs when stating that through controlling thoughts beliefs through banning certain books and curriculum, the same applies to implementing religion in public schools.

FALLACY #3: Ad Bacculum

  • "These bills would create a hostile learning and work environment for the majority of Texans who do not subscribe to their right-wing version of Christianity”
  • this could imply that people who are not of the christian faith would be subjecting themselves to hostility in Texas school, and vice versa.

FALLACY #4: Composition

  • The article discusses bills that:

  • Put the ten commandments in a visible place in classrooms

  • Require a time of prayer and reading the bible

  • Hire “chaplains” that serve as school counsellors

FALLACY #4: Composition

  • Erin could be assuming that these actions would cause the entire school system to:

  • Force state-sponsored religion

  • Provoke a hostile learning environment to non-christian students

  • Ultimately create an environment of christian indoctrination

FALLACY #4: Composition

  • even if these actions were to produce such things, in some instances it does not mean that it will do the same in the whole.