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Topic: Argument from silence

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	Argument from silence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		Such an argument from silence, in contrast, may be considered unreasonable, in consideration of individual motives.
		The argument from silence has also famously been used by skeptics against the virgin birth of Christ.
		On the other hand, statements volunteered by the accused may normally be considered, and in such cases the argument from silence may apply in a limited form.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Argument_from_silence (574 words)

	The Silence of the Scriptures
		One of the crucial elements in the work and worship of the church is the silence of the scriptures.
		Just in case you may be tempted to think that only churches of Christ are concerned about the silence of the scriptures, I want to refer briefly to a book published in 1888.
		century Presbyterian seminary professor not only understood the ‘argument from silence,’ but used it and felt confident that others would be persuaded by it.
	www.gospelhour.net /1880.html (2632 words)

	[No title] (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Arguments from silence are not authoritative, and are not valid by the laws of logic.
		NIV Just as the argument from silence concerning Jesus is shown to be false, the argument concerning instruments cannot be discerned using the silence of scripture.
		It should also be noted that if God's silence is going to be used as an argument on this topic, then arguing from silence must be defended itself.
	www.religiousdebates.com /im/im02.htm (1677 words)

	Silence
		Silence's chamber had one side sloping with the slope of the roof, and in it were two dormer-windows looking towards the north.
		But Silence broke away from him, and was in through the window, and the men followed her, and unbolted the door for the women, who pressed in wildly, and flung it to again.
		Silence sat still, staring at the fire, and Grace had dipped out a little cup of the hot porridge, and was trying to feed it to the dead baby, with crooning words.
	home.comcast.net /~mewf_short_stories/Silence.htm (10878 words)

	Chapter 1 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		When the argument from silence is invoked against a statement of a record of any kind, it is implied that the statement is probably not true because there is no evidence to be gathered from other sources of information in support or confirmation of it.
		It would be an argument from silence to maintain that Jesus was never at a feast at Jerusalem during this long period of his life, inasmuch as no mention of his having been there is to be found either in the gospels, or in any other credible document.
		But the argument is clearly inconclusive and unsatisfactory, because it may be used as well to show the probability that he was there at many, or all, of the feasts of the intervening years, —that it was his habit to attend the feasts.
	home.earthlink.net /~ironmen/wilson/studies_chap01.htm (5866 words)

	[No title] (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		The argumentation I have provided is not based on God's "silence" without any authority; the specific authority for "singing" has been given with a complete lack of such authority for "instrument;" and I do await Mr.
		I did not add "silence of the Scriptures" as a hermeneutical principle because of the recognition that it is not the means by which authority is ascertained.
		Brooks would be right in stating that silence in and of itself proves nothing-- but when God has chosen a specific means by which a practice is to be performed and does not mention or give any form of authority to any other, that silence proves lack of authority and lack of approval.
	www.religiousdebates.com /im/im03.htm (2874 words)

	No. 97-0884
		Therefore, due to the relative insignificance of the officers' testimony concerning Lanoi's silence, and the fact that a curative instruction was given, we conclude that the reference in the State's case-in-chief to Lanoi's pre-Miranda silence was harmless error.
		Lanoi argues that his trial counsel was ineffective by: (1) failing to request that the closing arguments be transcribed; (2) failing to object to testimony from the responding officers relating to Lanoi's silence; and (3) failing to move for a mistrial based on the alleged violation of Lanoi's Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
		Lanoi's counsel's failure to request transcription of the closing arguments was not prejudicial since the trial court, and this court, accepted the defense version of the prosecution's closing argument.
	www.wisbar.org /res/capp/z1997/97-0884.htm (2151 words)

	EPIC4 Online Help
		The argument of SILENCE may be a plus ('+') or a minus ('-') followed by a full nick!user@host pattern which is of the same composition as a ban (MODE +b), except that at least one '*' wildcard must be used.
		The argument of SILENCE may be the nickname of another irc user.
		SILENCE is not a replacement for IGNORE since IGNORE offers finer-grained control and is not limited in size.
	www.epicsol.org /help/index.php?q=1_General/silence (288 words)

	The Historicity of the Empty Tomb Evaluated: Argument from Silence
		Whenever an argument from silence is made, the objection invariably comes "that is just an argument from silence," perhaps accompanied by the dictum, "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." I am recognizing these objections explicitly from the start in order to emphasize that I do understand the nature of this type of argument.
		Once the type of argument is recognized, I would maintain that there are better arguments from silence and worse arguments from silence.
		There is a different argument from silence, and this one is sometimes made by those who support the historicity of the empty tomb.
	www.infidels.org /library/modern/peter_kirby/tomb/silence.html (2420 words)

	Argument from silence
		The argument is most usually known as the argument from ignorance (Argument Ad Ignorantiam), of which the argument from silence is one variation.
		It is simply not possible that all the indices of age could be restored in detail, and particularly not in that half hour.
		If there were information in the copies of Josephus (of which they seemed to have otherwise been quite familiar) that would have bolstered their case for Christianity -- like actual references to Christ -- then it simply exceeds the bounds of credulity that they would not have used it.
	www.errantyears.com /1998/feb98/000423.html (792 words)

	Silence Quotes
		Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.
		Silence is argument carried on by other means.
		Silence is the great teacher, and to learn its lessons you must pay attention to it.
	www.worldofquotes.com /topic/Silence/2/index.html (265 words)

	Argument from incredulity - EvoWiki (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		An appeal to ignorance is an argument that absence of proof is evidence of absence.
		A famous example has theologists argue their hypothesis of an invisible X is one even a genius like Galileo could not prove false.
		This is the argument from personal incredulity, and it contains the unwritten assumption that the speaker is a superhuman genius who should be able to understand everything unless he is missing an assumption.
	wiki.cotch.net /index.php/Argument_from_Ignorance (562 words)

	The “Silence” Argument : ChristianCourier.com
		One of the strongest arguments against the use of instrumental music in Christian worship is the “silence” principle.
		God’s silence is not a governing factor in matters pertaining to life and godliness.
		If one dare not employ the “silence” argument because the Scripture is silent about this sort of reasoning (and thus it is unauthorized) then, by the same token, one dare not use the instrument in Christian worship, because the New Testament is silent concerning the instrument, and thus it is unauthorized.
	www.christiancourier.com /archives/blakelySilence.htm (472 words)

	Arguments from Silence, And All of That: Repentance Reconsidered
		Arguments from Silence, And All of That: Repentance Reconsidered
		However, I am told that at the GES conference the objection was raised that this is an "argument from silence" and therefore, invalid.
		A classic "argument from silence" would run like this: "Our historical data for (let us say) the period 1168 B.C. to 1068 B.C. is sketchy and incomplete, so Arabia could have been a major regional power during that time." The argument is worthless, of course.
	www.faithalone.org /news/y1998/98may2.html (1328 words)

	Online Bible Study: Refuting stephenamy at Tripod
		This argument from silence is self-destructive to the pretribulation hypothesis since the word for rapture, or any description of it, does not occur with reference to the specific term "church" anywhere in Revelation.
		Actually, the argument from silence is a very strong argument, and is a very valid method of reasoning.
		The argument of imminence is based on well over 20 verses on the subject that we wait for and look for Christ, not anything that must come first.
	www.linkjesus.com /stephenamy.htm (1707 words)

	EconLog, Silent Signals, Bryan Caplan: Library of Economics and Liberty
		The Argument from Silence is probative (though not decisive!) if, on average, people who know are better off speaking, and people who don't know are better off silent.
		Silence is, probabilistically, an admission of guilt, whatever the law says.
		An "Argument from Silence" is not about failure to address a topic altogether, but from running circles around the topic in the midst of appearing to address it.
	econlog.econlib.org /archives/2006/09/silent_signals.html (1072 words)

	The Fivefold Challenge [ref001] [ref002]_The_Skeptical_Review_: 1995: Number Four: The Fiv (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Sometimes, this is a legitimate response-- the argument from silence is not always valid.
		If the event is an ordinary event which attracted little attention, or a private event not witnessed by others, than the argument from silence cannot be used to show the event never happened.
		Hence, the argument from silence is valid in the case of these miracles.
	www.skepticfiles.org /sr/4five95.htm (876 words)

	Argument From Silence (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		However, it was said that his silence was more eloquent than so many people's words, and it was presumed that his silence (deemed to be assent generally under the Law) actually denoted his disapproval.
		Silence, which had previously been his legitimate defense under the Law, was no longer sufficient to protect him against the anger of a sinful king seeking to legitimize his wrong doing by getting enough signatures to support it.
		Silence can mean you agree, or that you are not interested, or even that you are not qualified to comment.
	c2.com /cgi/wiki?ArgumentFromSilence (400 words)

	Autumn 1999 -- Volume 37 No. 4 - Loud Arguments From Silence
		An argument from silence is entirely proper, for example, when it can be shown that if assertion X were a fact, written source Y would have been compelled to mention it.
		The strength of the argument for proposition X varies directly in proportion to the strength of the argument that Y would have been compelled to mention it.
		The silence of the rest of the Bible and all early Church Fathers regarding the Thou-art-Peter story is amplified - if amplification of silence can be imagined - by the fact that a key word in the passage is an anachronism something that cannot be found to exist at the time required.
	www.americanatheist.org /aut99/T1/zindler.html (6449 words)

	Silence Quotes & Quotations compiled by GIGA (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		Silence is argument carried out by other means.
		To be alone with Silence is to be alone with God.
		Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrusts himself.
	www.giga-usa.com /quotes/topics/silence_t002.htm (458 words)

	Countering State-Sponsored Terrorism
		Contrary to the American approach, which is intended to restrict Iranian activities and to force it to abandon terrorism by further damaging Iran’s precarious economy with additional sanctions, the countries of Europe have relied on a varied set of practical arguments to justify their extensive economic and commercial ties with Iran.
		Finally, implementing a strategy of "buying silence" toward a state involved in terrorism might evoke anger of friendly countries suffering the consequences of terrorist activities, and thus undermine peripheral bilateral relationships.
		Hence, a strategy of "buying silence" and maintaining close commercial ties with terrorism sponsors is flawed, and may even entail damages and heavy losses in the short term and certainly in the long.
	www.ict.org.il /articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=5 (8937 words)

	Ankerberg Theological Research Institute - The John Ankerberg Show
		The silence of the New Testament is crucial in this controversy.
		The argument from silence can be valid when it is used to demonstrate that in principle all ceremonial laws have been abrogated and if something is not reinstated, it is no longer binding.
		That the argument from silence can be used against the Sabbath can be seen from an exegesis of Hebrews 7:14.
	www.ankerberg.com /Articles/apologetics/AP0803W3.htm (1374 words)

	GYM DEBATE:The Historicity of Jesus (John Powell versus jpholding) - TheologyWeb Campus
		To conclude this section, due to the silence of contemporary writers concerning a historical Jesus, it is not certain, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical person.
		Based on the Argument from Silence, and The Argument from Exclusion, and The Nazareth Argument, and The Template Argument, it is not certain, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical person.
		Let me concede that the argument from silence is not sound deductive PROOF that you lack a historical Jesus or that you lack, say, having a lion in the house since it's possible that Jesus was historical despite the silence and it's possible the lion is being hidden from your senses.
	www.theologyweb.com /forum/showthread.php?p=1657206#post1657206 (11795 words)

	THE SOUND OF SILENCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES: INTRODUCTION
		Before getting under way, let’s take a brief look at the "argument from silence." This is a method of reasoning which is often condemned by scholars in the field of New Testament research (though more widely accepted in other areas).
		A silence can be especially compelling if it is expressed in a way which seems to exclude the idea or involvement of an historical Gospel Jesus, and there are many cases like this.
		An argument is delivered more forcefully precisely by appealing to a point that does mean something to the reader or listener, something the audience is familiar with.
	jesuspuzzle.humanists.net /silintro.htm (1906 words)

	Shouting Above the Silence
		The problem, of course, is that in the face of such absolute, and genuine, divine silence with regard to a matter, some men have dared to speak for God; presuming to prescribe or proscribe as a matter of settled law for all the rest of humankind for the remainder of our allotted time upon earth.
		This is an abuse of silence, not a respect for it.
		That is NOT a transgression of silence, it is a transgression of specificity." McDade suggests, "the case of Nadab and Abihu will continue to be presented as a powerful example of the wrongdoing that occurs when the silence of the scriptures is not honored" [p.
	www.zianet.com /maxey/reflx269.htm (9937 words)

	Chapter 3 (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-08)
		The silence, therefore, of these documents with regard to an event or person is no sufficient evidence that the person did not live, or that a given event did not occur.
		The main assumption in all of these objections is that the silence of the book of Kings and other sources with regard to an expedition of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem in Jehoiakim’s third year renders improbable the statement of Daniel that such an expedition did occur.
		Having in the first chapter discussed this kind of argument in general, I shall confine myself in this chapter to a consideration of the argument from silence in so far merely as it affects the particular statements of Dan.
	home.earthlink.net /~ironmen/wilson/studies_chap03.htm (3505 words)

	Mission: Critical (Fallacious Generalizations)
		This is a special case of hasty generalization, usually known by its Latin name, argumentum a silentio, or argument from silence, because instead evidence to support the argument, all we hear is silence.
		This is an argument from silence, because it draws a conclusion ("since") on the basis of a lack of information ("no evidence").
		This argument is based on the reasonable generalization that when a restaurant is closed by the health department, violations of the health code must have been found.
	www.sjsu.edu /depts/itl/graphics/adhom/general.html (1472 words)

	[No title]
		If the argument from silence in the case of New Testament writers is a bad one, then that would mean that the knowledge of the empty tomb was part of the society's high-context knowledge.
		He believes, however, that because it was not done, this adds to the argument from silence previously made that the discovery of the empty tomb does not seem to have impressed itself upon early Christian consciousness as a historical event.
		I recall an argument made by Craig Blomberg in his interview with Lee Strobel in which he made a reference to Rabbis who became famous for their memorization of the Scriptures, but the problem is that Rabbis had to be trained to utilize this potential.
	www.tektonics.org /kirbjp1.html (14589 words)

	Jesus Puzzle: Chapter 2
		Earl Doherty wrote the following regarding an argument from silence: “If that unexpected silence extends to many different writers and many documents, indeed to all writers and documents available from that period, if it extends to a multitude of elements on the subject, the greater becomes the evidential force of that silence.
		Interestingly, an argument from silence also argues powerfully for earlier dates for historical records of Jesus.
		One could easily argue that the majority, if not all, of the New Testament writings were composed prior to the year 70 C.E., providing much earlier testimony to the existence of Jesus than the view Doherty and most New Testament critics adhere to today using this very same reasoning.
	www.preventingtruthdecay.org /2jp.shtml (620 words)

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