Lesson 5 - Miracles Flashcards
How does Lewis initially define miracles, and then redefine miracles? What is helpful in this redefinition?
Original Definition: Miracles are an interference with nature by supernatural power.
Redefinition: In all miracles, God does suddenly and locally something that God has done and will do in general.
The new definition shows that miracles are what God has always been doing, so it fits in with the way things are supposed to go, rather than miracles breaking the framework of how things usually go.
Whether its of the old creation or new creation, the point is that none of the miracles is isolated or anomalous (they all fit). They’re not an interference, but rather they fit into the larger pattern and make sense because they are attested to by their fitness.
How does Lewis argue and defend against the naturalist’s objections to miracles?
– He uses reason against the naturalists view of the world.
How does naturalism account for reason in a closed universe?
- Reason in our minds respond to a reasonable order in the universe.
- Naturalists discredit themselves by their own reasonable thinking. Reason (their claims) cannot grow out of non-reason (their worldview).
- Naturalist disobey their own pre-suppositions often. They are not consistent.
– Supernaturalism provides a compelling case for rational thought and origin of reason.
– Naturalism fails to give what human beings need: (a) we need clear understanding/basis for the origin and reason for reason and rationality; (b) it is impossible for the naturalist to operate according to their presuppositions.
How does Lewis’ apologetic method change from Mere Christianity to Miracles? Is this a helpful change?
Mere Christianity - direct (inductive) method
- one looks objectively/unbiased with the best evidence of the facts
- Facts: starts with particular in nature and let those facts/evidences lead you to God (moral nature –> moral God)
Miracles - indirect (deductive) method
- doesn’t start with facts or miracles, but starts with presumptions about miracles (natural vs. supernatural)
- assumes Christians and non-Christians are under different Presuppositions
- The argument proceeds deductively (what we learn from experience comes from what philosophy we bring to that experience)
Yes it is very helpful in this argument because the goal of deductive argument:
- Reduce the non-Christian premise to absurdity
- Only the Christian worldview of naturalist and supernaturalist makes sense and only through the Christian pre-supposition can you live.
How does Lewis defend against David Hume’s objections to miracles?
Lewis: Hume in refuting miracles actually refutes himself. He builds his entire argument on the premise of the absolute uniformity of nature.
a. ) Humes 2 Questions: Do miracles occur? Is the course of a nature absolute uniform?
b. ) He uses no to the second question to answer the first question (contradicts himself)
Lewis answer: Fitness Principle
The fitness of an orderly universe grants us the uniformity of nature, which Hume denied, but we need for everything including Science.
What is Lewis’ fitness principle?
Fitness principle = What makes anything right? They are rules behind the rules (Ex. Shakespeare, etc.)
– Hard science depends on assumptions on our sense of the fitness of things: the uniformity of nature. We are influenced by this innate sense of the fitness of things (what ought to be).
–Tacit knowledge: we can’t explain the physics behind riding a bike, but when we’re riding a bicycle we just know.
– Criteria of Fitness: This is the premise, which made modern science possible; fitness of an orderly universe undergirded by Sovereign God, which grants the uniformity of nature.
–The fitness of an orderly universe grants us the uniformity of nature, which Hume denied, but we need for everything including Science
How does Lewis borrow from other philosophers to defend the nature and probability of miracles?
He borrowed from other philosophers to develop his fitness principle
- ) Sir Arthur Eddington - helped Lewis understand fitness of nature
- - Hard science depends on assumptions on our sense of the fitness of things: the uniformity of nature. We are influenced by this innate sense of the fitness of things (what ought to be). - ) Alfred North Whitehead
- - Science developed in the west even though the east was more technological advanced. Why? Transcendent God vs. Pantheism. The west expected a law in nature.
How does Lewis describe the relationship between miracles and the laws of nature?
– They are descriptive, not prescriptive (can tell you what is, not what you should do about it). Ex. Law of Math (2+2=4) can’t tell you how to get rich.
– They provide a frame that helps us understand everything that happens in a nature, but can’t tell you what should or should not happen. Miracles don’t violate laws of nature.
What is the grand miracle? How does this contribute to Lewis’ apologetics?
Grand Miracle = Incarnation
Incarnation becomes the new basis for probability.
Three principles found throughout nature that everyone can see and observe and are now lit up through the incarnation:
- ) Descent/Re-ascent
- - Nature – death to life (vegetables, animals, human) - ) Chosen-ness
- - Nature has tremendous wealth, but has a process of selectivity.
- - God always chooses people. - ) Vicariousness
- - There is a balance/symbiotic relationship in nature
- - Ex. Some things live only because other things suffer (Bird eats off the hippo)
Nature Religions deify these principles, anti-religious deny them
Christianity says nature is lit up by the process behind nature. Incarnation helps us see the interpretive principle: they are a copy, not the original.
What are the categories of miracles?
2 Broad Categories
- ) Old Creation - reminders of what God has been doing all the time
- ) New Creation - prophecies that foretell what the new creation is all about (looking forward)
6 Specific Categories:
- ) Fertility (OC) - virgin birth, feeding the 5,000, water into wine
- ) Healing (OC) -
- ) Destruction (OC) - withering of the fig tree
- ) Dominion over the organic
- - OC: rebuking the storm
- - NC: walking on water - ) Reversal (NC) - resurrection
- ) Perfecting/Glorification/Ascension (NC) - Transfiguration, transformation
How does Lewis categories influence Lewis’ apologetics?
Lewis works to show with these categories that Miracles are not sideshows or against nature, but part of a coherent overall scheme (fitness)
– Ex. We shouldn’t expect miracles from Buddha, but we should from Christ, because that is the pattern of life that he sets up.
–Miracles are pictures of what happens when God speeds up what he is always doing or will do.
Lewis whole thesis: Miracles are a part of a coherent way of ordering
“I contend that in all these miracles alike the incarnate God does suddenly and locally something that God has done or will do in general. Each miracle writes for us in small letters something that God has already written, or will write, in letters almost too large to be noticed, across the whole canvas of Nature. They focus at a particular point either God’s actual, or His future, operations on the universe. When they reproduce operations we have already seen on the large scale they are miracles of the Old Creation: when they focus those which are still to come they are miracles of the New. Not one of them is isolated or anomalous (not one of them doesn’t fit): each carries the signature of the God whom we know through conscience and from Nature. Their authenticity is attested by the style.
