A “post hoc ergo propter hoc” observation

16 Comments

1. PghCath says:

   1 February 2011 at 11:52 AM

   I had the same thought!

   I hope our Coptic brethern gain a voice in the new Egyptian government that is to come. Lord, please keep them safe.
2. Andrew says:

   1 February 2011 at 11:57 AM

   Yesterday, having watched some newsclips, I was pondering quietly along the same reasoning lines.
3. Katherine says:

   1 February 2011 at 12:04 PM

   I am hopeful. The opposition is tolerant and secular and doing everything to stay broad-based and pluralistic. Let us pray.
4. Centristian says:

   1 February 2011 at 1:29 PM

   But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them.

   Exodus 9:12
5. nola catholic says:

   1 February 2011 at 1:29 PM

   The opposition wants to partner with the Muslim Brotherhood in making a new government. The current government (whatever else you may think of its policies) is beneficial to Christians within Egypt.

   As you can see from the below linked article, the Coptic Pope has expressed his full support of the current Egyptian government. You know the result will be bad when the Copts prefer a tyrant to what may come next. The current government has actually pursued Islamic extremists and has been fairly tolerant of the large Coptic minority in Egypt. That will not hold if the Muslim Brotherhood takes over.

   I’m not saying I’m supportive of Mubarak at all, I’m not. Simply that his government is probably more helpful to Christians than the opposition will be once the Muslim Brotherhood takes over.

   Let’s pray that our Coptic brethren are protected in the event of a regime change.

   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703439504576116222399438428.html?mod=fox_australian
6. Iconophilios says:

   1 February 2011 at 4:02 PM

   @nola catholic;
   If by “fairly tolerant” and “beneficial”, you mean “ignoring the pleas for protection from the defensless Copts who are harassed, marginalised and molested by the Muslim majority”, then yes, it’s a tolerant government. But, I suppose that is tolerant for a Muslim state… at least the Copts are better off than the Filipinos in Saudi Arabia.
7. Supertradmum says:

   1 February 2011 at 4:14 PM

   Several Copts were killed yesterday in Alexandria. It has just begun.
8. Supertradmum says:

   1 February 2011 at 4:15 PM

   The opposition is not tolerant. The Muslim Brotherhood was a sharia state. Wake up, America, first Egypt, then Jordan, then Lebanon…
9. Supertradmum says:

   1 February 2011 at 4:15 PM

   wants a sharia state, and will kill for it
10. Young Canadian RC Male says:

    1 February 2011 at 5:14 PM

    hmmm. Interesting coincidence. Or maybe not? I just read 1/2 of the Book of Numbers today and when the Jews were directly defying the Lord and Moses, in two occasions He wiped out a number of them with plagues, Numbers 11:31-35 and (before the Inner Circle interveined to stop on behalf of the Jews) in Numbers 16:41-50.

    It does make we wonder, after a bit of Bible reading, if this is a consequence for openly defying God, specifically Christ, like they did by saying “No talks with the Vatican” after being chastized for the Christian persecution in one of Benedict’s new years speeches.
11. oratefratres says:

    1 February 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Scary, it seems like all these Islamic nations will be overturned and taken over by Pro-sharia groups. As a result, it seems like these nations will then surround Israel. I think I heard somewhere before that Israel will be surrounded by her enemies, which in turn will cause her to turn to Christ. I do not know where I heard that, but that comes into my mind regarding these recent events in Islamic Nations.
12. isnowhere says:

    1 February 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Fr. Zuhlsdorf,

    God permitted it to take place.

    So can you explain the purpose for the logical fallacy of “after this, therefore because of this?”
13. czemike says:

    1 February 2011 at 9:00 PM

    @isnowhere:

    The “post hoc” fallacy means that just because A preceeded B, A didn’t necessarily cause B.

    For example: Yesterday a federal judge ruled Obamacare unconstitutional. Today we have record snowfall through a great swath of the nation. Therefore, when a judge rules unconstitutional a law signed by a sitting President, metorlogical mayhem will ensue. :-)
14. stilicho says:

    1 February 2011 at 10:03 PM

    I think it’s naive to think that anything good will come from a mob action that will likely be hijacked by more sinister influences such as the Muslim Brotherhood. I pray for our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the middle east during these tumultuous and uncertain times.
15. JKnott says:

    1 February 2011 at 11:13 PM

    I had the same thought as well Father. Thanks you for mentioning it.
    “Precious in the eyes of the Lord are His saints.” Ps 116: 15
    Our Christian brethren being persecuted and slaughtered in the mideast because of the Faith need our prayers.
16. Supertradmum says:

    1 February 2011 at 11:52 PM

    Having taught logic this past fall semester, I shall counter that there may be a spiritual relationship in the events, but not necessarily a material relationship. As I have told my religions classes, where there is confusion or chaos, there is Satan. Nothing but more evil can come out of this unleashing of chaos and rebellion without any infrastructure, but the Muslim Brotherhood. A true revolt needs strong leadership with vision, not thugs with sharia law and a global Islamic nation as a goal. Our Pope may prove to be a Prophet, as well at the great leader which he is for us and the world. But, look what happened to most of the OT prophets.

    By the way, in case people wondered why the mob cut the heads off of two mummies, it is because the Arabs see the Age of the Pharaohs as an evil time of ignorance before Mohamed. I wish I were making this up, but to cut the heads off the mummies is a sign of desecration for the entire Kingdom of Egypt, whether independent or under the Ptolemies, or under Rome, pre-Islam conquest were all “false”in culture, religion, morals, etc….Nothing was “true” until Mohamed.

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