Miracles

Question 1

Concepts of miracles

Answer 1

Break natural law or do not,

Question 2

Hume’s definition

Answer 2

‘Miracles are a transgression of the laws of nature brought about by a particular volition of the Deity.’

Question 3

Consistent with nature of God

Answer 3

‘God so loved the world that He gave his only son so that those who believe him shall not perish but live an eternal life’ (John 3:16) Aquinas-interventionalist God,’those things which are done by divine power’

Question 4

Brian Davies’ definition

Answer 4

‘Miracles are unexpected and fortuitous events in the light of which we are disposed to give thanks to God’

Question 5

Not contrary to science

Answer 5

Swinburne- ‘Evidence for a rare event that breaks the law of nature is acceptable historical evidence’
Polkinghorne in Quarks,Christianity and Chaos-‘science cannot exclude the possibility that on particular occasions God does particular unprecedented things’
Swinburne-we do not know nature to say what defies it

Question 6

Testimonies

Answer 6

Biblical-Jesus’ resurrection-intrinsically violates natural law,
EWT from Paul 1 Corinthians (15:3-4) ‘he was buried and that he was raised on the third day’

Question 7

Criticisms of Aquinas

Answer 7

Peter Vardy-‘Such a God needs to face some hard moral questioning’-immoral God

• Brian Davies-God would be a spectator than creator
• Theists-cannot understand the way God works-epistemic distance

Question 8

Hare

Answer 8

Miracles are a manifestation of our hopes and desires-‘Blik’-‘Coincidences being interpreted to have religious significance’

Question 9

RF Holland

Answer 9

Anti realist view-‘