Miracles Flashcards
define anti-realist
believe that miracles are a personal interpretation or the mind. They are symbols as something that lifts spirits or transforms a community. They do not break any laws of nature
define realist
believe that miracles are real events brought about by god that break the laws of nature
how are miracles related to saints
to become canonized ( a saint ) they must meet a specific criteria. Must have died, show heroic sanctity and proof that a miracle happened after their death, then proof of a second miracle after beatification
what does Stephan Hawking say about the laws of nature
“unchangeable universe”
laws can’t be broken
scientific laws are based of observation and evidence. if an event contradicts a law there are 3 possibilities:
-faulty evidence
-an unknown factor
-need to adapt or expand the law
what is the “god of gaps”
if we can’t explain something we should just blame God. What we should really do is look to do more research in science
who is the anti-realist scholar for miracles
Maurice Wiles
Who is Wiles
Maurice Wiles was a 20th century christian priest and Philosopher
What did Wiles believe about Miracles
-he believes miracles do happen, but are infrequent
-they do not defy any laws of nature
-he doesn’t reject interventions of god on the laws of science but because of the idea that god could choose when to intervene and that not intervening at Hiroshima or Auschwitz is morally wrong
-better to think god does no miracles rather than some
why does a miracle need to break a law of nature
-gods intervention interferes with workings of laws of nature
-it is an intentional act of gods will and his omnipotence
what is a quote from wiles about miracles (Auschwitz)
“yet it seems strange no miraculous event prevented Auschwitz or Hiroshima, miracles of the Christian faith seem trivial in comparison”
How does Holland explain miracles
used stories to explain his philosophies
what is Holland’s story example of a miracle
e.g. a child riding his toy car gets stuck on train tracks, a train is coming but miraculously stops as the driver fainted and put the breaks on
-this is a coincidence miracle but holland says there is nothing miraculous
-it is only a miracle to the mother
-defies no laws of nature
is holland a realist of anti-realist scholar
anti-realist
what does Tillich think about miracles
-he is a Christian modern philosopher
- believes miracles are sign events which tells the person new info
(Moses, Jesus)
-miracles reveal god to people, this causes ecstatic understanding for the experiencer
what is a quote from Tillich about the structure of reality
“without contradicting the rational structure of reality”
what is a quote from Tillich about mystery
“the mystery of being”
was Tillich a realist or anti-realist scholar
anti-realist
what does Keith ward think about miracles
-was a protestant priest
-inspired by Tillich
-god doesn’t defy laws its all in the mind
-miracles are a personal event
what is a quote from Keith Ward about miracles and the mind
“the miracle is mainly in my mind”
what is quote from Ward about natural order
“supernatural interference would destroy the natural order of events”
what is a quote from ward about how miracles are personal
“me and my reactions”
is ward a realist or anti realist scholar
anti-realist
what does Hick think about miracles
-miracles are “experiencing as “
-an event experienced as religiously significant
-it is a startling happening the makes us intensely aware of gods presence
-if an event seems to break laws of nature it is not because of supernatural intervention
-there will be a natural explanation once our scientific knowledge allows this
what is a quote from Hick about miracles
“for a miracle is an event that we become vividly and immediately conscious of God’s acting toward us”
is Hick a realist of anti-realist scholar
anti-realist
Who was Hume
he is an empiricist and Scottish philosopher. all of his knowledge derives from sensory evidence
Hume assumes religious is based on factual claims
What is Hume’s definition of a mircale
“a transgression of a law of nature by a particular violation of the deity”
-he means a miracle breaks a law of nature by the action and choice of a God or supernatural being
Is Hume a realist or anti-realist
Hume is a realist
he believes miracles are highly improbable as he does not believe god exists but he cannot say the definitely do not exist any more than he can say they definitely do exist. His arguments are an inductive proof
what are Humes 5 arguments
Witnesses / psycology
proportionality
barbarous people
different religions
Ockham’s Razor
what is Humes argument about Witness testimony
-claims that for all miracles there is inadequate witness testimony
-witnesses must be educated and intelligent
-they should have a reputation of nothing to lose or gain from the claim
what is Hume’s argument about psychology linking to witness testimony
-humans love the fantastic and want to believe in miracles
-religious people know there stories are false but continue to spread them as a good cause
-makes people of common sense less than sensible
-the more they believe the more they magnify it
what is Hume’s argument about proportionality
-intelligent people consider the evidence they can empirically verify
e.g. Jesus walking on water
-there is more evidence that people can’t walk on water to that one time Jesus did so we shouldn’t believe it
what is a quote from Hume about proportionality
“a wise man proportions his belief to the evidence”
what is Hume’s argument about barbarous people
-miracle accounts often come from ignorant barbarous nations making them unreliable
e.g. many miracles in the Bible are made by poor uneducated fishermen and peasants
-theses stories are not an adequate source, they are passed down by word of mouth
what is Hume’s argument about Ockham’s Razor
-the simplest explanation is most likely to be the most accurate
-we must choose the lesser miracle
-in order for a miracle to be true the denial of the miracle would have to be more miraculous than its acceptance
e.g Jesus’ resurrection, what is more likely the claim is mistaken or Jesus actually come back to life
-we must logically choose the first option
what is Hume’s argument about different religions
-miracles in other religions cancel each other out
-instead of just picking some to believe in we should just deny them all
how is Hume’s argument an inductive proof
-it is not a factual proof
-deals with probability
-science can’t say it will never happen
-there is not enough proof for miracles but not that they never happen
why is Hume’s main argument about witness testimony flawed
-some people have no reason to lie
-not everyone is a barbarous fool
-too many people believe in miracles and have accounts
-overgeneralises human credulity
why is Hume’s psychological argument about miracles flawed
-Hume thinks there are no properly attested accounts
-but he looks to the romans and thinks they are genius but they believe in miracles
-can’t have it both ways
they are either barbarous fools or not
what would Hume do if he experienced a miracle
-he would have to doubt his own senses
-leaves no room to accept miracles
how did Hume’s critique of miracles set the bar for discussion
-his definition is now used by philosophers and theologians
-brought forward the idea God doesn’t exist in the enlightenment period
-gave the idea Christians are ill-equipped to think or miracles properly
what is Hume’s quote about religions when talking about miracles
“the Christian religion is founded on faith not reason”
what does Peter Vardy think about Hume’s argument
-Hume talks about natural law as if it is set in stone
-scientific advances have shown some of our previous understanding to be incorrect
-miracles today have often been backed up be science
-over 70 miracles at Lourdes have been verified by empirical evidence
what is the significance of a realist view of miracles on religion
-central to Christianity because of the resurrection
-brings into question the problem of evil
-why some not others
-miracles are for universal purpose
-can be access by anyone if we open our hearts
what does Swinburn say about miracles from a realist perspective
-if your an anti-realist then you’ve missed the point
-there is a chance is he did cause miracles as there isn’t enough proof he didn’t
-better to show better to show gratitude and worship god in case he did
-God is the simplest explanation of everything else
what is the significance of an anti-realist view of miracles on religion
-more modern approach
-miracles are a psychological event
-God can remain omni-benevolent, omnipotent and omniscient
-no problem of evil as he doesn’t do any miracles (not selective)
-epistemic distance
