"Samuel W. Heywood" <sheywood@MyRealBox.com> said:

On Tue, 19 Dec 2006, Neil Kelsey wrote:

<snip>

No, it is just the assertion of a postulate that is accepted as
true in some logical domains, and without requiring any proof.
It is not an argument for the existence of God. I never said
that it is an argument for the existence of God.

You don't seem clear on what an argument is. You don't have to
explicitly state you're making an argument in order to be having one.
Anytime you defend the position that "We live in a world created by
God," is a postulate, which is what you attempted to do, you're making
an argument.

The position needs no defense. It is a simple postulate, a basic
assumption accepted as true in some logical domains. A postulate
is not an argument.

An argument goes like this:

1. Major premise
2. Minor premise
3. Conclusion

Sam Heywood
-- Message handled by Pine, Version 4.62

"M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
A: It can be.
M: No it can't. An argument is a connected series of statements
intended to establish a proposition.
A: No it isn't.
M: Yes it is! It's not just contradiction.
A: Look, if I argue with you, I must take up a contrary position.
M: Yes, but that's not just saying 'No it isn't.'
A: Yes it is!
M: No it isn't!

A: Yes it is!
M: Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the
automatic gainsaying of any statement the other person makes.

(short pause)

A: No it isn't.
M: It is.
A: Not at all."