We've all heard the 2 expressions. We've all probably used them also.
Are the 2 a contradiction in terms? If anything's possible (meaning there's a rational explanation for anything), do miracles really exist???
If you believe one, can you believe the other???
Your thoughts???
2007-11-04 20:02:10 · 9 answers · asked by Adam G 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I was under the impression that a "miracle" was the impossible actually happening. If a miracle is possible at any given time...what makes it miraculous????
2007-11-04 20:12:57 · update #1
I don't believe in either.
You hear otherwise scientifically literate people come out with 'but hey, anything can happen!' as if its some accepted thing to rational and logical people - I'm afraid its not.
Everything which is physically impossible - is impossible, not right now, not with our current level of technology - but ever.
Miracles? Violations of physical law? They're impossible by definition.
Such people often reveal the weakness of their arguments by saying isn't a baby a miracle, isn't a smile on an old man's face a miracle? lol - They guy above me says puppies are miracles! To such naive, silly childish comments you have to reply 'no, of course not, don't be stupid'.
*It is interesting that the theists don't even see the contradiction here.*
2007-11-04 20:23:25 · answer #1 · answered by Leviathan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've always been under the impression that something labeled a "miracle" has a large dose of the emotional. It is miraculous to those who are most touched by its occurrence, but completely natural to others who have no stake in the outcome. So it is a case of relativism, rather than contradiction. "Anything's possible" is simply an expression to make it clear that the speaker doesn't know what will happen, or that there is an equal chance of several outcomes. Merely a verbal shorthand. "It's a miracle!!" is an expression I often use sarcastically or ironically. I've heard too many people use it for occurrences that are in no way unusual--thus they've cheapened the phrase over time.
We have a neighbor who lets his dogs run freely, and they inevitably end up as road pizza. When one of his dogs survives for a year, I exclaim "it's a miracle!!" But the odds are against the poor fellow and he'll eventually be squat on the road. No 'miracle' is forever in the world of humans, and, given eternity, 'anything's' possible and a monkey on a typewriter may eventually turn out the works of Shakespeare. But I'm not holding my breath for that...
2007-11-05 08:37:23 · answer #2 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Miracles happen every day, haven't you ever seen a puppy? Smelt a rose? Listened to the birds herald the morning, such miracles are around us all the time. Think about "anythings possible", well the likelihood that one little spermatozoa raced so many other millions to join an ova and become you, it was unlikely but anything was possible and it happened and so the miracle that is you came into being. No the two are not a contradiction they compliment each other
2007-11-05 04:09:35 · answer #3 · answered by happylady216 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
People usually say, "anything's possible," before the end result of a tumultous situation. Then, when that situation is resolved in a good way, they say, "It's a miracle!" They aren't contradictory terms as they happen at different times, at least by my reasoning they do.
2007-11-05 04:06:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i first thought that chance and miracles are 2 contradictory things.... however, i think it lies in the context its used...
Anything's possible can be used in a way to show our ignorance over what an all powerful god can do. It's a miracle can show the same thing.
2007-11-05 04:11:37 · answer #5 · answered by Atomic New Theory 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, they aren't contradicting at all!
They can essentially mean the same thing.
If you think anything is possible, you also think miracles are possible then don't you?
If you believe in miracles, and miracles prove the impossible, that further proves that anything is possible!
2007-11-05 04:06:45 · answer #6 · answered by Danni D. 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Just by the definition of the words. If anything is possible, then miracles are possible. Rationality is subjective, whats rational to you might not be rational to me. To me it seems one leads to the other.
2007-11-05 04:06:49 · answer #7 · answered by Legacy 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
How about the apparitions of Jesus and Mary. Do you think they qualify as "miracles"?
2007-11-05 06:48:01 · answer #8 · answered by ROBERT P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see them as being in conflict.
2007-11-05 04:05:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋