Miracles - god's work

Question 1

What do Christians believe about miracles?

Answer 1

Jesus performed miracles to show God’s love and power. Jesus may be God taking this form so he can be immanent. God works miracles directly in the world.

Question 2

What miracles has Jesus completed?

Answer 2

Walking on water, healing the sick, and raising the dead.

Question 3

Miracles happen to show God’s … Or to show his … Of someone speaking or acting on his behalf.

Answer 3

Power, approval.

Question 4

Christians believe that we cannot perform miracles without the help of..

Answer 4

God.

Question 5

Why can Jesus perform miracles?

Answer 5

He was God in human form. Part of the holy trinity.

Jesus was much closer to God so therefore he was worked through by God to a greater extent.

Question 6

What do Muslims and Jews believe about God and miracles?

Answer 6

Only Allan/God can perform miracles though he may perform these through chosen PROPHETS.

Question 7

What is the story of God healing a paralysed man? (Matthew 9:1-9)

Answer 7

1. A paralysed man was brought.
2. Jesus said, ‘ courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven!’ (He was made ill to repent). This shows he had the authority to forgive.
3. He was accused of blasphemy.
4. He said it would be better to forgive his sins than make him walk, before telling the paralysed man to go home.
5. They all praised God

Question 8

Which accounts do the Tenakh and Old Testament share?

Answer 8

The parting of the Red Sea to aid the Hebrew Slaves in escaping Egypt.
The collapse of the walls in Jesicho to give the Jews victory.

Question 9

What was the miracle of stairway B?

Answer 9

A happy coincidence where God’s intervention at the right time caused a good outcome - 16 lives were saved in the North Tower. If the firemen had not stopped to help a woman, they would have died. Could they have been saved as a reward?

Question 10

Does God work in the world through miracles? What do atheists and Buddhists think?

Answer 10

They reject the idea of miracles from God. Atheists and Buddhists don’t believe in God, Buddhists can however accept the idea of miracles, just not from God.

Question 11

Describe the miracle of Ganesha.

Answer 11

On 21/9/95, a man dreamed that Ganesha was thirsty and wanted some milk. When he went to his temple and told his priest, a spoonful of milk was offered to the stone image of Ganesha. This vanished, causing the miracle to spread across the news. Whenever milk was offered it vanished !

Question 12

Why does God perform miracles?

Answer 12

So we can learn about God or have more faith.

Question 13

What do Buddhists believe about miracles ?

Answer 13

They do not believe in God, and therefore they may question whether miracles happen at all. They may believe that a miracle may be caused as a result of enlightenment. They believe things happen as a result of cause and effect - karma.

Question 14

Describe the miracle of Guru Nanak and the grazing buffalo.

Answer 14

Guru Nanak, one of the founders of Sikhism, was made to watch his buffalo. He began to meditate and the buffalo strayed, eating his neighbour’s crops. When his father returned to the field with the farmer, the crops had returned and were blossoming.

Question 15

Describe miracles which break nature’s laws.

Answer 15

These are miracles which break the laws of science.
Jews and Christians accept the miracle which affected Joshua, the Israelite leader.
When he asked the Lord, the sun stood still for one day, allowing the Jews to win a battle. This showed God was on their side.

Question 16

What other beliefs are there about miracles that break nature’s laws?

Answer 16

People believe miracles break the laws of nature due to the speed they happen in, such as when someone is declared dead but resuscitates with medical intervention, or when someone recovers from an illness quickly and is cured.

Question 17

What is a happy coincidence?

Answer 17

This is something which happens at the right time to achieve good and prevent misfortune, such as the Miracle of Stairway B.

Question 18

What do Christians believe about God performing miracles ?

Answer 18

They believe God can perform miracles as he is outside space and time and therefore is not limited by nature’s laws. He performs these miracles directly in the world. They believe that if people perform miracles this is due to God working through them.
Christians accept Jesus’ miracles but believe it was God performing them through Jesus.

Question 19

Why does Jesus perform miracles ?

Answer 19

To show the love and power of God or to show he is God in human form.

Question 20

What are Jewish beliefs about miracles?

Answer 20

Jews believe that God works directly in the world, particularly to benefit Jews. For example, at the Red Sea, when the Jews, led by Moses had to flee, the Red Sea was opened up, allowing the Prophet Moses to lead the Israelites to safety.

Question 21

What do Abrahamic religions believe about humans performing miracles?

Answer 21

We can only perform them through God.

Jews and Muslims believe that God can only perform miracles, though he may perform them through prophets.

Question 22

Describe a miracle during history which is used as evidence of miracles today.

Answer 22

Miracles often happen during times of hardship, such as during WWI. At the Battle of the Mons, when the British were in retreat, they saw three angels at the battle, causing them to gain hope and survive.

Question 23

What is an example of a personal experience which proves miracles?

Answer 23

Faith healing - this involves curing or improving health through spiritual means.
In some religions acts of worship involve faith healing.
In others religious believers go to pilgrimages or sacred places to get cured.
This healing can involve prayer, mental practises, and spiritual insights for a sudden or gradual cure.