Pathologization the Post-Modern Fallacy de Jour?

So, I found this over at patheos.com. It is a discussion of some of the flaws in the tendency to pathologize.

I thought it would be an excellent--and important--follow-up to my rhetorical analysis of Matt Slick's article on atheism.

(Not that Slick pathologizes atheists; he simply misrepresents them.)

Rather, I do it to remind us that we ought not to think someone is crazy simply because they disagree with us, or because we cannot understand--or choose not to understand--their position.

To do that is to fall into fallacious thinking; it is a kind of straw man argument all to its own.

Opinion Writing as Genre

Today in class, I mentioned that opinion writing is at its best when it presents a tired old subject from a new, interesting, and unexpected perspective. Here is yet another example of that from Atlantic magazine.

And here is the pro-choice video asking what punishment should accompany the illegalization of abortion.

Rhetorically, this is some strong stuff. . . strong models to imitate as you struggle to find a unique and interesting perspective of your own.