False equivalence

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False equivalence is a logical fallacy in which two completely opposing arguments appear to be logically equivalent when in fact they are not. This fallacy is categorized as a fallacy of inconsistency.

The following statement is an example of false equivalence:

“The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is no different from your neighbor dripping some oil on the ground when changing oil in his car.”

The comparison is between things differing by many orders of magnitude: Deepwater Horizon spilled 210 million US gal (790 million l) of oil; one’s neighbor might spill perhaps a pint (0.5 L).

How often do we see false equivalence used in politics and religion?
 
I haven’t seen it in religion at all. I’ll admit I haven’t been looking for it very hard there.

I pay very little attention to politics. Or comparisons. Or statistics. All are manipulative and “of this world”. Politics for me at this point is either a mildly entertaining activity, or something that I have to tolerate when certain of my friends who enjoy getting wound up about it get wound up.
 
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