Miracles Lesson 2

Question 1

Are religious miracles really posiible in the world today?

Answer 1

• Omnis beliefs about god
• Beliefs bout science
• Philosophical beliefs about the universe
• Ethical beliefs (it is moral for God to perform miracles)

Question 2

What is a realism account of a miracle?

Answer 2

Realist understandings of the world generally hold:

1) That there are true facts about the world which can be measured.

2) Gives validity to things that we believe to exist (through experience) but cannot observe.

3) That the world is mind-independent: it exists the way it is, regardless of what we think.

Question 3

What is an anti-realism account of a miracle?

Answer 3

Deny that we can know the universe outside of our interpretation (deny a ‘mind-independent world’, since the phenomena observed by our senses are interpreted by the mind. Any talk of God is subjective and non-cognitive.

Question 4

What are the three ways a miracle can occur?

Answer 4

-Extraordinary Coincidence

-Brought about by the power of God

• A Violation of Natural Law

Question 5

What is the explanation for an Extraordinary Coincidence? Example?

Answer 5

-An event happens, it is unusual – so could be a co-incidence

-Juliane Koepcke survived a Peruvian air crash, 85 passengers and 6 crew
died after falling 1000 ft

Question 6

What is the explanation for brought about
by the power of God? Example?

Answer 6

-A spiritual power brings about a change/miracle

-Moses parting the red sea.

Question 7

What is the explanation for a Violation of
Natural Law? Example?

Answer 7

-The natural law is shown to be broken. A classic view of miracles

• Water to wine

Question 7

What are some problems with these realist accounts of miracles?

Answer 7

-Why does God save some and not others?

-Do people only believe in it because they want to?

-Can we rely on evidence from the Bible and past saints?

-Modern science rejects natural laws can be broken