miracles Flashcards
what are the two broad ways of looking at miracles
- realist
- anti realist
what are the three realist views of miracles
- 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
example of a miracle as an extraordinary coincidence of beneficial nature
- 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
examples of a miracle event brought about by a spiritual power, working through people
- when god worked through moses to deliver the israelites from slavery
- miracles of jesus
what does it mean when miracles are described as violations of natural law
- 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
what are the two issues with regarding miracles as violations of natural law
- 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)
what does john hick say in response to miracles being seen as violations of natural law
- the overwhelming evidence supporting the natural law outweighs the evidence supporting the miracle
what does hume say in response to miracles being seen as violations of natural law
- if such intervention is gods will then why is there so much suffering
how do realists see miracles
- 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
how do anti realists view miracles
- 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
how does tillich see miracles
- 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
how does hick see miracles
- 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
how does holland see miracles
- remarkable coincidences
- natural occurrences
- beneficial in nature
- religious significance
how does holland see miracles
- remarkable coincidences
- natural occurrences
- beneficial in nature
- religious significance
two problems with hollands view of miracles
- 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
what is humes view of miracles
- 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
what is humes argument that arises out of his definition of a miracle
- 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
what are humes supporting arguments
- 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’
what is the significance of humes views in relation to religious belief
- it is inductive so cant prove anything
- humes supporting arguments arent strong and so can be challenged
what is wiles’ view of miracles
- anti realist
- to be interpreted as symbols
what is wiles’ argument against miracles
- 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
significance of realist views
- 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
significance of anti realist views
- 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
