Wiles Crique Of Miracles Flashcards
What is the main argument of Maurice Wiles against miracles?
Wiles argues from a Christian perspective that miracles are not compatible with god.
Argues that god’s presence and action in the world should be understood as something that works through natural laws, rather than through miraculous interventions
God does not reform individual miracles like healings
The only miracles was creation that sets everything in motion
How can i use wiles’ deist stance to critique miracles
Argue that god does not intervene with the world. This means that god does not perform miracles that break the natural laws
Therefore, making wiles more of a deist( believes in a god who created the world but does not intervene in it) than a theist ( personal god who is actively involved in the world via the Holy Spirit)
Realists claim that miracles are a violation of natural laws, wiles argues that this is impossible because?
1) it makes god unfair
2) it makes god’s universe chaotic
Example of the miracles being unfair and chaotic
Imagine a situation where a person is desperately ill and prays for a miraculous healing, but no miracle occurs.
Meanwhile, another person who is also sick, but perhaps is less faithful or deserving, experiences a miraculous recovery
Unfair because a faithful, pious person should be rewarded a miracles especially when they are suffering when someone less faithful receives a miracles it can feel like god is unjust which goes against his all loving nature and omnipotent nature as he can’t save everyone who is terminally ill- creating an image of chaos as it seems like god’s nature does not follow with miracles
How does the story of Jesus being tempted in the desert emphasise that god does not perform miracles in the way that realists claim
This story suggests that god does not perform miracles to prove his existence when Jesus denied to do miracles that would defy natural law e.g. when temped by satan to turn stones into bread to satisfy hunger, indicating that faith is not dependent on proof or a divine spectacle flipping the realist expectation on its head. Therefore, there are no miracles where god suspends natural laws.
Strengthens wiles argument of god not intervening in his creation and that faith is not dependent on miraculous events
Wiles takes a more anti realist stance though he does critique this too
He proposed a more symbolic understanding of miracles as to be understood as pointing to deeper truths about god’s relationship with humanity
He would view the miracles in the bible as deeper metaphorical understandings e.g. he would deny Jesus actually calming the storm but would interpret this story to be faith bringing peace to chaos
