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Philosophy of Religion > miracles > Flashcards

miracles Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the two broad ways of looking at miracles

A
  • realist
  • anti realist
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2
Q

what are the three realist views of miracles

A
  • miracle as an extraordinary coincidence of a beneficial nature
  • miracle as an event brought about by a spiritual power, working through people
  • miracle as a violation of natural law
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3
Q

example of a miracle as an extraordinary coincidence of beneficial nature

A
  • an explosion in nebraska
  • all 15 members were late for choir practice for different reasons
  • they would have died if they were on time
  • seen as gods work
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4
Q

examples of a miracle event brought about by a spiritual power, working through people

A
  • when god worked through moses to deliver the israelites from slavery
  • miracles of jesus
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5
Q

what does it mean when miracles are described as violations of natural law

A
  • it is something that happens when god interferes with the normal workings of the laws of nature
  • intentional act of gods will
  • it has religious significance
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6
Q

what are the two issues with regarding miracles as violations of natural law

A
  • encourages a god of the gaps approach
  • science doesnt accept the concept of violation as it sees the laws of nature as
    • descriptive (based on experience)
    • probabilistic (what is likely to happen rather than what will definitely happen)
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7
Q

what does john hick say in response to miracles being seen as violations of natural law

A
  • the overwhelming evidence supporting the natural law outweighs the evidence supporting the miracle
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8
Q

what does hume say in response to miracles being seen as violations of natural law

A
  • if such intervention is gods will then why is there so much suffering
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9
Q

how do realists see miracles

A
  • miracles are a real part of what happens in the world
  • come about through the activity of god or someone empowered through him
  • signs of the kingdom of god
  • objectively true even if they arent fully understood
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10
Q

how do anti realists view miracles

A
  • they interpret everything supposedly supernatural as mental attitudes
  • reject the concept of miracles as an activity by a supernatural being
  • a miracle is something that transforms people or creates positive feelings
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11
Q

how does tillich see miracles

A
  • as sign events
  • subjective experience
  • something that is amazing though it does not breach natural laws
  • points to the mystery of being that is at the heart of the individual’s experience
  • a symbol within a religious experience
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12
Q

how does hick see miracles

A
  • natural events that have religious significance (10 plagues)
  • an event doesnt breach a law of nature, our understanding of that law just isnt wide enough and needs expanding to account for the ‘exception’
  • it an event seems inexplicable, it is just because our scientific knowledge is limited
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13
Q

how does holland see miracles

A
  • remarkable coincidences
  • natural occurrences
  • beneficial in nature
  • religious significance
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14
Q

how does holland see miracles

A
  • remarkable coincidences
  • natural occurrences
  • beneficial in nature
  • religious significance
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15
Q

two problems with hollands view of miracles

A
  • very subjective, whether or not an event is a miracle is dependent on how an individual interprets it
  • reduces god to the interpretation and understanding of human minds
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16
Q

what is humes view of miracles

A
  • adopts a realist standpoint
  • he assumes that religious believerd claims are factual and literally true
  • 3 aspects
    • violates laws of nature
    • willed by god
    • performed by some other spiritual agent
17
Q

what is humes argument that arises out of his definition of a miracle

A
  • the validity of witness evidence is dependent on evidence
  • the more unlikely the claim, the more reliable the evidence needs to be
  • an event that violates natural law is maximally improbable
  • witness lying > miracle happening
18
Q

what are humes supporting arguments

A
  • there has never been a miracle supported by witnesses possessing the attributes needed to take their claim seriously
  • people like believing in miracles
  • ‘miracles’ are the products of primitive superstition - ‘ignorant and barbaric ppl’
19
Q

what is the significance of humes views in relation to religious belief

A
  • it is inductive so cant prove anything
  • humes supporting arguments arent strong and so can be challenged
20
Q

what is wiles’ view of miracles

A
  • anti realist
  • to be interpreted as symbols
21
Q

what is wiles’ argument against miracles

A
  • the only miracle was that of creation. Gods creation was so good there was no need for further intervention
  • interventionist understanding of god is unacceptable as it is selective
  • its impossible to know what actually happened in relation to the miracles of jesus
22
Q

significance of realist views

A
  • miracles of jesus support and strengthen the faith of Christians
    • reinforces belief in omnipotent god
    • source of hope
  • many christians see miracles as a demonstration of God’s power and love
23
Q

significance of anti realist views

A
  • significance for tillich was psychological and personal
    • sign events bound up with the experience of being at the heart of an event
  • holland - natural beneficial happenings that had religious significance
    • reinforce faith in gods goodness
  • wiles - Jesus’s were myths pointing to gods purpose, encouraging ppl to play their part

Philosophy of Religion (8 decks)

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