Miracles

Question 1

Miracles

• Seemingly impossible occurrence normally good
• Coincidence: Two or more unrelated unrelated factors/events that happen simultaneously

Two types of miracles
1) Events in which no laws of nature are broken but a coincidence occurs at the right time for a happy outcome

Answer 1

2)Event that breaks nature laws (cannot be explained by science)

Nature miracle: Demonstrates G-d’s power over nature

Healing miracle: Restores a person to wholeness of body,mind,spirit

Question 2

Examples of miracles

Joshua 10 - Sun Stands Still:

• 5 kings gather to fight against gibeon
• Gibeon asks Joshua to help
• G-d intervenes in fighting with hail and panic
• Joshua asks for sun/moon to stand still until fighting is over
• G-d obliges/Joshua wins/Army returns

Lawbreakers: Sun standing still, moses splits red sea, declared dead then resucitated

Answer 2

Miracles as acts of G-d:

• Many believe miracles only performed by G-d
• People doing miracles is G-d working through them

Happy coincidences: No law breaking, happens exactly at right time e.g Stairwell B survivors in 9/11
Buddhism: Miracles done by person at a stage of enlightenment, not all believe they exist

Question 3

Evidence of miracles

• Those who believe use miracles as proof they have happened:
• See miracle happening - milk drinking statue
• Links to religious artefacts - virgin Mary Statue crys blood
• Experience miracles: terminal illness suddenly healed
• Associated with religious founders

Answer 3

Evidence for miracles

People who believe in miracles accept then as genuine bc:

• Too many accounts not to happen
• Occur in present aswell as past
• No scientific explanation after investigation
• Performed by holy people to convert
• Many die for religion - must be true or would be lack of following

Question 4

Miracles and G-d

He is omnibenevolant > Shows loving and care
He is imminent > active in world directly
Omnipotent > Has power to break laws of nature
Omniscient > Knows when to intervene

Answer 4

Problems

• G-d might not perform miracles
• Gives miracle workers too much status
• Makes his behaviour seem unfair
• Some believe G-d is transcendent

Question 5

David Humes agains miracles

1) Never enough Evidence
- Laws of nature witnessed for 100’s years
- Accepted miracle must outweigh laws of nature - cannot happen

2) Witnesses unreliable
- Witnesses biased - desperate for it to happen
- Exaggerated or lied
- Same for messengers who spread word

Answer 5

3) Witnesses uneducated
- Uneducated primitive
- willing to accept extraordinary events as miracles
- No explanation as no scientific knowledge

4) Religions depend on miracles
- Rely on miracles to prove claims
- All religions cannot be right therefore none are right
- Religions cancel each other out

Question 6

Counter-Arguments to Humes

1) Never enough Evidence
- Humes missed point
- Rare occurrence
- Exceptions to rule so cant outweigh

2) Witness unreliable
- Founders were in danger of too much trust
- Reviewed with care before acceptance

Answer 6

3) Witnesses uneducated
- Occur in low level countries
- Events interpreted differently
- Most nations recorded an occurence

4) Religions depend on miracles
- Accept miracles to support beliefs
- Many religions dont depend on them nor compete with others