Atheists, how do you explain the "miracles" from the Lady of Guadalupe?

Answer 1

psychotic delusions

Answer 2

Quite easily.

The image itself is a forgery (in the sense that it was create by the hand of man, not through any divine process)
:
"[T]he Spanish-language magazine Proceso reported the results of a secret study of the Image of Guadalupe. It had been conducted - secretly - in 1982 by art restoration expert José Sol Rosales. Rosales examined the cloth with a stereomicroscope and observed that the canvas appeared to be a mixture of linen and hemp or cactus fiber. It had been prepared with a brush coat of white primer (calcium sulfate), and the image was then rendered in distemper (i.e., paint consisting of pigment, water, and a binding medium). The artist used a "very limited palette," the expert stated, consisting of black (from pine soot), white, blue, green, various earth colors ("tierras"), reds (including carmine), and gold. Rosales concluded that the image did not originate supernaturally but was instead the work of an artist who used the materials and methods of the sixteenth century (El Vaticano 2002). " ("Miraculous" Image of Guadalope", but Joe Nickells)

No one seems to be able to provide a single verifiable "miracle" that can be attributed to the Lady--most or either unconfirmable, or in the case of "cures" for alcholism are more likely to do with the placebo effect than anything. Since the cured believe that the painting is a "miraculous" image, they also "believe" that they are cured. It's not an uncommon occurence, and there's nothing supernatural about it.

Answer 3

Since it was almost 120 years after the fact that any real documentation was made of these "miracles", I really don't give them much credit. There seems to be an ongoing debate about who actually wrote about her originally.

1 man wrote about her, then suddenly 117 years later documentation starts showing up... It sounds very much like religious fraud. Since the Catholic church has a long history of filling their pews through deceit, lies, and trickery, I am willing to discount the story entirely.

-SD-

Answer 4

Don't believe them. It is well known that for years the Catholic church has been taking advantage of the poor and uneducated people of South America. Religion is just one way those in power stay in power and those miracles help religious ideas spread like wildfire.

Answer 5

The miracles from Our Lady of Gudalupe were not intended for atheists.

People invent all sorts of excuses of why they cannot be miracles, but none of them offer any scientific evidence supporting claims of forgery. The best scientists and art analyasts have been summonsed on more that one occaision. The finest, skeptical specialists in the world. They are not about to jeaprodize their academic repution with charges of bias in their research.

It's best not to throw pearls before swine. No amount of solid physical verified empirical evidence is ever enough for those who will not believe. For those who do believe, no amount of evidence is necessary.

Answer 6

You've nailed it - "miracles". (Emphasize the quotes please).

People will go to long lengths to make something small into something more.

And, since these alleged miracles happened over 500 years ago, we cannot know what happened.. again, it's all about faith.

Answer 7

Superstition

Answer 8

Never in the history of mankind have more pagan, native people been baptized into Christianity in so short a time.

The conversions were so numerous, it was all the priests could do to baptize several million people, working all day, every day, for over 3 straight years.

Answer 9

Thats just crap. Or it is the power of will, or thought. People see what they want to see.And did they live poorly, have wretched lives, and want to believe there is something better? Maybe somebody was smokin something they shouldn't have.....

Answer 10

Very easily, no miracles actually occured.

Answer 11

Those who don't believe in miracles or who need one in their life... you can visit http://www.apodivinemercy.com