No True Scotsman
The “No True Scotsman” fallacy is used when a general claim is made about a larger topic. If refuted with the fact that the claim is too broad for the group it pertains to, the one making the claim will argue that “true” members of that group are the ones who apply. This fallacy and generalization can, of course, be inaccurate and exaggerated in order to make the person arguing it sound correct. They do not accept or reject the evidence that is given to them; they simply create a new generalization with the people/things who apply to their claim in order to make their argument seem stronger. The conversation goes like this:
Person one: “All members of that club are hoodlums and probably got arrested last night.”
Person two: “I saw a few today on the street. They aren’t all in jail.”
Person one: “They aren’t true members of that club. They don’t count. Only true members went to prison.”
No True Scotsman sees modern usage among various religious institutions as there are often numerous interpretations and sects of one particular belief system, for example, followers of the Islamic faith condemn extremists as they do not represent the religion (i.e. No True Muslim is an extremist). Of course, these claims are warranted, yet they still fall under this fallacy. In August of 2015, there was a series of murders in Pensacola, Florida that were linked to followers of the Wiccan faith by a Sergeant in Escambia County. Several individuals who identify themselves as Wicca came forward and condemned these acts as contradictory to the Wiccan faith (i.e. No True Wiccan would commit a violent act). While this may be true, this is a broad claim made by a few individuals who cannot speak for all followers of the faith.