Fellow atheists : Do you ever use the term 'miraculous' in everyday conversation?

Question

I realize that the word is a part of the American vernacular, but I'm simply curious if there are people who refuse that term on principle.

Answer 1

NEVER.

Answer 2

I don't refuse to use it on principle, but I can't think of the last time I may have used it. I don't think that anything is "miraculous" in the actual definition of the word, and as a writer I'm a stickler for using the language as correctly as possible.

Answer 3

Hey, a little less American bias, thank you very much, it's used just as much in British English as US English.

But that aside, yeah I have used it, not on an everyday basis, when I feel the need for such a word. To be honest I don't care any more if religious types try to twist my words based on their alternative meanings. The whole "He said oh my god so he believes in god" and such are just a pain in the neck that I try to avoid..

Answer 4

I only employ the term "miracle" when being sarcastic or insulting. I know it's weak, but sometimes I'm just too lazy to be creative and clever. For example:

Bush didn't make an *** of himself during his speech. It's a miracle!

Creationists can use a computer. It's a miracle!

And so on...

Answer 5

I actually try to avoid most of the extra-loaded religious words... and 'miracle' is one of of them.

Words with religious overtones, unless used in the most creative and sarcastic ways, gives assistance to fostering the religious ideas and for me that's the last thing that I'd like to do.

I'd rather do a Harry Potter like idea and say a substitute phrase like, "a word that must not be said," in order to avoid a word like 'miraculous.'

The English language is so well developed and there are such a plentiful list of substitute words that can be alternatively used that I don't have a problem avoiding those loaded and invented words of religion.

And check this out....wouldn't it be miraculous if the god-believers began to see how even their typically used vocabulary choices are subliminal little nudges to keep them on the hook as believers in the nonsense they claim. Wouldn't it be a miracle if they finally began to see the light as it really and truly is... a wonderful and naturally occurring property of energy - not in the least way created by god.

[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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Answer 6

(I am not an Atheist.)
I use the term miraculous to describe something that is amazingly coincidental. By the tenants of my religion, they actually may be miraculous, but require further investigation to confirm this.

Answer 7

I've said "it's a miracle", but I've never ascribed any supernatural power to the event. It's just a figure of speech.

I just don't have the time or energy to examine every word or figure of speech to see if I believe in what they were originally based on.

Answer 8

I wouldn't refuse to use a word like that even if I could hardly be said to use it every day. It's metaphorical. People say "fantastic" without the object being related to fantasy, or "terrific" without the object being anything terrible. Language changes. We couldn't stop it if we wanted to.

Answer 9

Nor do I use the term vernacular.

Answer 10

I find myself rolling my eyes, whenever anyone refers to an act as miraculous. I always think to myself, "Oh you mean coincidence?" I have stopped using it, due to what I feel it implies.

Answer 11

Like "it's miraculous I got out of bed before 6am this morning"?

Yes. I do, however, always seem to use it sarcastically.