Do you have a presupposition that God does not exist or that the miraculous cannot occur?
If so, then you cannot objectively examine the evidence.
Therefore, the presuppositions you hold regarding the miraculous may prevent you from recognizing the evidence.
On the other hand, if someone believed that there was a God and that God is involved in the world, then it is easy to acknowledge that miracles can occur. If God created the universe as the Bible states why can't God also intervene in our world and perform miracles?
Finally, it would be basically illogical to state that miracles cannot occur. This is because in order to logically state that miracles cannot occur, a person must either know all things in the universe so that he can rightfully state miracles cannot occur, or he must have some logical proof why miracles cannot occur. Furthermore, it is not enough to state that there is no evidence for the miraculous since a person's experiential base is limited. It may very well be that miracles have occurred and you are simply not aware of it!
2007-12-17 11:15:09
·
answer #1
·
answered by thundercatt9 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
far removed from reality? most of these things have had scientific explanations found.
Virgin births? completely biologically possible without miracles. hymens aren't largely "complete" and sperm has several days to "get there" and its completely possible. unlikely, but far from scientifically impossible.
Walking on water? illusions could happen, but it is supposed to be a miracle/magic anyway. magically its not that huge of a feat, relatively speaking.
water turning to wine? theres been cases of mystics in the east in modern times being able to create things from nothing, and no science has been subjected to it. again. its supposed to be a miracle anyway, not mundane life.
seas parting? theres like half a dozen or more different explanations of how that could occur, varying from spectacularly timed wind in ideal other circumstances, theres a volcanic potential cause of that effect that I saw on a documentary the other day... thres a number of solutions that the only "miracle" is of spectacularly unlikely timing.
dead raised? remember these events are several THOUSAND years ago. their sense of dead-ness is not as scientific as ours. even a few hundred years ago being buried alive from being mistaken as dead, was a real concern! a thousand or more years ago wouldn't it be even more likely? plus... its supposed to be miraculous.
other miraculous healing? its supposed to be a miracle... not mundane life or science.
burning bushes? there are several species that can produce such a phenomena entirely naturally. "talking" if you see that the story could easily be meaning psychic, not physical communication, or what would likely be scientifically categorized as "auditory halucinations" I think, then this isn't that much of a stretch. especially if the event is in the presence of burning natural oils or whatnot. who knows what such fumes could do to a person?
iron floating? ... lol, while obviously not what you mean, boats, anyone?
talking donkeys? again, see the burning bush. this can also be metaphorical and refer to non-verbal communication, animal trainers learn to communicate with their animals very specifically, and some people do naturally tend to have a feel for such communication.
combining simple modern scientific fact, comprehension of simple metaphor and inteperetation... none of the things that you mention are all that "far removed from reality"
and by the way, the Jewish concept of God is not nearly as bad as some. Judaism has a more practical view on many things. most of the things that are patently unrealistic, like Jonah. are widley seen as being purely metaphorical and not a literal event at all.
hell I am not sure how many people in Judaism believe in a literal flood. and some people have asserted there to be scientific reasonings of how it could happen. (though, admittedly some of these are pretty sketchy)
many things that are profoundly unlikely and scientifically inexplicable happen in the world. this is a matter of fact. theres infinitely more that we do NOT know about the universe and its functions thatn we do, via science. any honest scientific mind would appriciate this.
2007-12-17 19:26:18
·
answer #2
·
answered by RW 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
These things are real - but not common, which is why they are referred to as miracles (with the exception of the godhead (triune God). People who believe simply believe that God is powerful above all things, even the laws of science (which we believe He created).
The bottom line is either you believe or you don't. Contrary to popular belief, having faith isn't an indicator of intellectual ability or lack thereof. There are many intelligent intellectual people who are Christians and Jews (I'm including Jews because some of what you listed are also in the Jewish bible). Basically, no one is forcing you to believe anything. If you don't want to believe it, then don't.
2007-12-17 19:08:16
·
answer #3
·
answered by C 5
·
0⤊
0⤋
And to any thoughtful person would anything appear more incredible, than, if we were not in the body, and some one were to say that it was possible that from a small drop of human seed bones and sinews and flesh be formed into a shape such as we see? For let this now be said hypothetically: if you yourselves were not such as you now are, and born of such parents [and causes], and one were to show you human seed and a picture of a man, and were to say with confidence that from such a substance such a being could be produced, would you believe before you saw the actual production? No one will dare to deny [that such a statement would surpass belief]. In the same way, then, you are now incredulous because you have never seen a dead man rise again. But as at first you would not have believed it possible that such persons could be produced from the small drop, and yet now you see them thus produced, so also judge that it is not impossible that the bodies of men, after they have been dissolved, and like seeds resolved into earth, should in God's appointed time rise again and put on incorruption. For what power worthy of God those imagine who say, that each thing returns to that from which it was produced, and that beyond this not even God Himself can do anything, we are unable to conceive; but this we see clearly, that they would not have believed it possible that they could have become such and produced from such materials, as they now see both themselves and the whole world to be.
And that it is better to believe even what is impossible to our own nature and to men, than to be unbelieving like the rest of the world, we have learned; for we know that our Master Jesus Christ said, that "what is impossible with men is possible with God," Matthew 19:26 and, "Fear not them that kill you, and after that can do no more; but fear Him who after death is able to cast both soul and body into hell." Matthew 10:28 And hell is a place where those are to be punished who have lived wickedly, and who do not believe that those things which God has taught us by Christ will come to pass.
St. Justin Martyr First Apology
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm
2007-12-17 19:07:46
·
answer #4
·
answered by scholar_wood 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
As God is not real he cannot require anyone to believe anything, but for some strange reason Christians think that people should believe in these imaginery things.
2007-12-17 19:01:24
·
answer #5
·
answered by Exodus 6
·
1⤊
0⤋
Easy, it was the Holy Spirit that impregnated mary
Jesus (God) performing his usual miracles.
Christianity is ABOUT FAITH.
Do you have eyes? You will soon... All you athiests STOP TESTING US! Freedom of speech and all that but being beat up at school sure doesn't help my mood. Sry if I seem cranky but you would be to if you got beat up for your faith.
2007-12-17 19:02:29
·
answer #6
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
1⤋
To increase faith. To play it safe, have faith in all religions to show God you really will go for anything!
2007-12-17 18:59:34
·
answer #7
·
answered by madruk7 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
To test human gullibility. God must have a neurotic sense of humor.
2007-12-17 18:57:55
·
answer #8
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
God doesn't require these things. People who think they speak for God do.
2007-12-17 19:06:16
·
answer #9
·
answered by Primary Format Of Display 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
people flying in space, cloning, CELL PHONES!!!. Absolute madness. It comes down to this, tell them to prove it. Don't argue stupid theology about faith. Make them prove it. Like Elijah and the fire. If God really did it before he can do it again.
2007-12-17 19:03:52
·
answer #10
·
answered by craig7_21040 3
·
0⤊
1⤋