Absence of evidence is evidence of absence if we can reasonably expect to find evidence given the claim.
For example, the Loch Ness monster does not exist. I can make that claim because they went through the lake with sonar detection and found nothing. Although this is technically an argument from silence, we should expect to find some reading given that Nessie is supposed to be a dinosaur swimming in a relatively small body of water. If a dinosaur existed, we should reasonably expect to find evidence when we went looking.
To use another example, if a miracle working godman was wandering around 1st century Judea raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons and causing all manner of political and religious uproar, it's reasonable to think some 1st century Roman or Jewish source would have commented on him.
For example, the Loch Ness monster does not exist. I can make that claim because they went through the lake with sonar detection and found nothing. Although this is technically an argument from silence, we should expect to find some reading given that Nessie is supposed to be a dinosaur swimming in a relatively small body of water. If a dinosaur existed, we should reasonably expect to find evidence when we went looking.
To use another example, if a miracle working godman was wandering around 1st century Judea raising the dead, healing the sick, casting out demons and causing all manner of political and religious uproar, it's reasonable to think some 1st century Roman or Jewish source would have commented on him.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
