The Ad Hominem Attack

As long as the church keep wildin' out, I can justify all my foolish deeds. – Lecrae, “Church Clothes”

An Ad Hominem,  (Latin for “to the person”), is attacking an opponent’s character or personal traits in an attempt to undermine their argument. Ad hominem attacks can take the form of overtly attacking somebody, or casting doubt on their character. Ad hom attacks try to subtly undermine the person without actually engaging with the substance of their argument.

Examples of Ad hominem attacks against The Bible and Christianity are:

“The Bible has caused more deaths than the Koran”.

“Look at the Crusades, (military expeditions by European Christians to retake the Holy Land from Muslims), centuries ago.”

“What about the Inquisition, or the Salem Witch Trials?”

“Christians are just a bunch of Bigots and homophobes”

Etc.

Atheistic sceptics are not the only ones who try to sidestep the truth with ad hom tactics. Any time you hear people say the reason they’re not in church is because of the megarich pastors, backstabbing members, scandal-ridden ministries, fake men of God, etc. you’re facing an ad hom.

It’s not new. Even the Samaritan woman at the well tried the tactic on Jesus. When He told her that she’s had 5 husbands and that she was not married to the man with whom she was currently with, she immediately attacked Jesus’ Jewishness and the Jews’ bigotry in condemning the Samaritans’ style of worship! (Read John 4:1-30 again, she was totally trying to change the topic, but our Lord wisely kept the conversation in focus).

The aim of ad homs is sidestepping the issue in question. Knowing this will help us be more effective in our witnessing an also in understanding attacks on our faith.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN