Miracles Flashcards
Realism
Realismis the view that we can have knowledge of an objective reality ( one without ourselves and our bias in it). Realist views of miracles are thus those views which regard miracles as objective (mind-independent) events that are caused by God.Real events caused by God, usually either a beneficial coincidence or a genuine transgression of a law of nature.
Anti-Realism
Anti-Realismis the view that we should be sceptical of the ability of the human mind to understand the true nature of objective reality. Anti-realist views of miracles are those views which regard miracles as subjective (mind-dependent) events taking place within our mind. They are beneficial and can transform a community or uplift the spirit and are at least indirectly caused by God. Scholars, Tillich, Wiles, Holland.
Aquinas’ realist understanding of miracles
Events done by God that nature could never do, e.g create something out of nothing.
REAL transgressions of the laws of nature or nature itself. Essential to Christian faith.
Hume’s realist understanding and rejection of miracles
He defined miracles as it was widely accepted in his era of pre enlightenment: “ a transgression of a law of nature by particular volition of the deity” It was this definition he disproved by many points, mainly though arguing that no testimony could ever be reliable enough to prove something so improbable. “ A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence”
What did hume say about the probability of miracles?
They were maximally improbable
What did Swinburn respond to Humes attack on testimonies of miracles
Swinburneargued for the principles of testimony and credulity. The principle of credulity argues that you should believe what you experience unless you have a reason not to BELIEVE YOURSELF. The principle of testimony argues that you should believe what others tell you they have experienced, unless you have a reason not to BELIEVE OTHERS. Swinburne is an empiricist who argued that an experience of a miracle should count as evidence towards belief that it occurred, although it doesn’t constitute complete proof. FOR EXAMPLE , WE WOULDNT QUESTION SOMEONE WHO SAID THEY HAD TOAST FOR BREAKFAST, IF WE ALWAYS ASSUMED SOMEONE WAS LYING THERE WOULD BE CHAOS
What might science say to miracles and what would James reply.
Any supposed miracle could be explained by mental illness, epilepsy, random brain hallucinations, fasting, drugs, alcohol, lack of sleep, etc. So, we will always have a reason not to believe any religious experience.
James, psychologist said that even drugs can be used to induce a religious experience by any means necessary they still arise from God
What does Hick say about God and miracles or practices differing between religions.
Hick argues that the different religions of the world are like blind men each touching a different part of an elephant. They each report they are feeling something different, yet that is because they are just too blind to see how they are really part of the same thing. So any miracle is still inspired by the same God
Quote from St Paul supporting Swinburns belief that you cannot be a Christian unless you believe in at least one realist miracle: Jesus’ resurrection.
‘‘If Christ is not raised, your faith is pointless”.
Example of how miracles can be beneficial coincidences interpreted as miracles subjectively by individuals. And who said it
Young boy runs across train tracks and happens to stop just before the boy is killed, though nothing supernatural has occurred the Mother believes it is a miraculous intervention and the driver believes it isn’t anything more than a happy coincidence. - R.F. Holland
Tillich anti realist quote on miracles.
“an event which is astonishing, unusual, shaking, without contradicting the rational structure of reality”
He interprets them as sign events from God, who is being itself and so is present in every beneficial event.
What does Wiles believe about miracles- because an omnibenevolent God would not help some instead of others eg holocaust?
Wiles claims that “The world as a whole is a single act of God”. Since God created this world and all of its features, including its natural laws, it seems strange that God would have to intervene in the world, either to rearrange objects or break his own laws. That does not sound like an omniscient omnipotent being – it sounds like someone having to fix their mistakes. It is more logical to think that the world in its entirety was created in one action and God does not keep returning to it to fix things.
What is eviedence that miricles are essential to catholic fiath?
Canonisition - the decleration someone is a saint- requires at least 2 miracles as proof that God works through them.
Quite from Hume on realist miracles
” A transgression of a law of nature by particular volition of a deity “
Tillich says its important to emphasise the….
” symbolic nature of miracles”
