Disproving Odin - An Experiment in arguing with a theist with Theist logic

[SteveII]

Yes but why would you exclude things outside of our universe?

Because not doing so would be a composition fallacy, lol. What a silly question.

 The Principle of Sufficient Reason or even just any basic causal principle justifies thinking that causation is a feature of any possible reality. What argument do you think would be successful in undercutting this premise to a point to think it is probably not true (since this is an inductive argument).

No. You don’t get to ‘logic’ into existence the scientific underpinnings of reality.  This argument fails at premise 1.  Full Stop.  You have no way of demonstrating that it is more likely true than not true.  

2. The universe began to exist. This is fine, though it isn't necessarily true.
3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. This does not follow because premise 1 is not necessarily true of the entire universe--composition fallacy.

It does follow unless you can show that (1) is unlikely true. Can you?

He doesn’t have to.  You need to demonstrate that it is more likely true than not true, and with some actual evidence.  Philosophy alone isn’t going to cut it. 

That is the ONLY option. You cannot talk about "scientific" for things prior to the first moments of the universe. Full Stop. All of our intuitions about reality (not just our universe) screams out a causal principle. There is no way around this and for this reason alone, Premise (1) is more likely true than not. 

(1) The premise does not limit itself to the universe or reason from experiences within the universe. You are imposing a limit, not me. The argument claims that it is a general principle, a feature of existence, an obvious metaphysical truth.

It’s true because it’s obvious?  That’s a pretty tight circle, right there.

Steve, the problem (as I see it) with your reasoning throughout this thread, and your debate style in general, is this:

You flip your position on what is knowable beyond our universe depending on which argument is being discussed.  So, when atheists appeal to facts about our observable universe to explain how your god (as he’s often described) can’t logically or scientifically exist, it’s a category error.  He’s supernatural.  We’re making a mistake in our reasoning when we try to apply truths about our known reality to god, and the unknowable state he exists in.

But then out the other side of your mouth, whenever premise 1. of the KCA comes up, atheists are ‘placing unnecessary restrictions’ on what we can know about reality beyond our universe.  All of a sudden you can make predictions, have certain knowledge of “obvious truths”, and reason your way across an obvious category distinction.  We don’t have to provide a defeator for premise 1. because you already did.  It’s a category error. Those are your words.  

So, which is it?

Regarding your first point about category error, yes--comparing God to physical laws is an obvious and silly category error and shouldn't be done. This is not that.

Regarding you second point, is there any reason whatsoever to think that causal principles only apply within the universe? Why are scientist talking about string theory, multiverses, etc.? Because they seem to think there is such a thing. Why? Because it seems like an objective feature of reality--no matter what physical conditions you find yourself in. These are the points you must answer to be successful in refuting the KCA--not complaining that you can't win after bringing up weak arguments.