Miracles Flashcards
Hume’s views on miracles
Hume has a realist definition of miracles as it should defy laws of nature, be willed by god and be performed by some other spiritual agent
Humes arguments against miracles
The validity of witness evidence about anything is dependent on evidence
The more unlikely the claim the more reliable the evidence needs to be
An event that violates the laws of nature is maximally improbable
Wiles’ arguments against miracles
Wiles takes an anti realist approach to miracles: they are to be interpreted as symbols
The only miracle was that of creation
God puts laws of nature in place which meant that miracles would have to be rare otherwise humans could not rely on those laws
The interventionist understanding of God is unacceptable as that implies that God is selective in choosing who to help. This issue is intensified considering so many miracles reported seem trivial
That would not be a god worthy of worship making the problem of evil unsolvable
‘The story of christs resurrection… symbolises the conviction that wickedness, suffering and death do not have the final word about human life’
Humes v Wiles
Hume: atheist, realist approach, Christian belief in miracles is irrational since they are maximally improbable
Wiles: theist, anti realist approach, starting point is within christian theism and avoids interventionist approach
Significance of realist views
Miracles of Jesus support and strengthen faith
Referred to as powerful acts which reinforces omnipotence of God
Presented as signs of the kingdom of god so reassure Christian’s that god is sovereign over the universe
Aquinas viewed miracles as demonstrations of God’s power and love
‘Straw before the wind’
Significance of anti realist views on miracles
Such views address the problems raised for theologians by their apparent contradiction with what is known of science and also by their apparent selectivity
Preserves their intellectual and moral integrity
For Holland miracles were natural happenings that were beneficial in nature and had religious significance for the person involved
They reinforce the faith of Christians in gods goodness and love
Tillich
Miracles as sign events
Miracles are astonishing ‘without contradicting the rational structure of reality’
Tells us something about god
Points towards ‘the mystery of being’
