Preaching to the choir

Cogito ergo sum
Logic and rhetoric

Key articles

* Logical fallacy
* Syllogism
* Argument

General logic

* Presupposition
* Fractal wrongness
* Galileo gambit
* Suppressed correlative
* Argumentum ad lunam
* Checkerboard rule

Bad logic

* Adding epicycles
* Galileo gambit
* Race card
* Invincible authority
* Definitional fallacies
* Scope fallacy

v \- t \- e

"Preaching to the choir" or "preaching to the converted" is a figure of speech that refers to a situation when someone is making an argument to an individual or group of people who already agree with that argument. The opposite is evangelism, missionary work, or proselytization, which refer to winning new converts.

Such a rhetorical strategy is meant to minimize dissent or further solidify a view. The range of responses to this, from fervent nodding ("So true, so true!") to disgruntled remarks ("Thank you for wasting my time, Captain Obvious!"), may all be expressed by commenting that that's preaching to the choir. The term implies that individuals who would be willing to sing in a church choir would be favorably inclined to whatever point of view the preacher was espousing.

As well as in churches, the practice is common in political meetings — for example, at a party conference or political rally, where everybody who attends is likely to already be a supporter of the party or politician. In a political context, the phrase "energizing the base" is often used, which has a slightly more positive connotation: rather than denoting futility, it suggests attempts to encourage the faithful to go out and do stuff.[1]

The phrase "preaching to the choir" apparently dates from the 1970s; "preaching to the converted" is much older, from the late 19th century.[2] The concept is older still, however. Christians argue endlessly whether and to what extent they should preach to the converted or to the unconverted; the Parable of the Sower suggests that God's word ~~won't~~ is at best unlikely to have any effect on unbelievers (and might get you shredded for your trouble),[note 1] but if it falls on the believer's ground (or ears), it will flourish (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15).[3][4]

## See also[edit]

* Apologetics tend to do a lot of this
* Cognitive dissonance — a problem for any argument's acceptance that this neatly avoids
* Backfire effect — what you risk by preaching outside the choir
* Fox News
* Groupthink
* MSNBC
* Religious leaders

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ When they say "Do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their hooves, then turn and rend you", it doesn't mean you're going to get a pleasant massage!

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Abortion campaigners seek to learn from gay marriage debate, Irish Times, Feb 4, 2017
2. ↑ Preaching to the choir, Phrase Finder
3. ↑ Should you preach to others?, The Restored Church of God
4. ↑ Should Christians preach to others, Awake!, Jehovah's Witnesses, June 8, 2002

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