Miracles Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is a miracle?
An event that is claimed to have broken the laws of nature and whose only explanation is an act of God.
What is an example of a miracle in the Bible?
John 4:43-54: Jesus Heals an Official’s Son.
What happens in John 4:43-54?
A royal official’s son is healed by Jesus after the official asks him to come and heal his son, who is close to death.
What does Jesus say about belief in signs and wonders?
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
What was the outcome of the royal official’s encounter with Jesus?
The official’s son was healed at the exact time Jesus said he would live, leading the official and his household to believe.
What are some reasons miracles might lead to belief in God?
Miracles are seen as direct acts of God, providing evidence of divine intervention.
What are Catholic responses to non-religious arguments about miracles?
Catholics argue that miracles cannot be fully explained by science and serve as proof of God’s existence.
What is Lourdes known for?
Lourdes is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites for Catholics in Europe and is often associated with miracles.
How many miracles has the Catholic Church recognized at Lourdes?
The Catholic Church has recognized 70 miracles occurring in Lourdes due to the intercession of Mary.
When was the most recent miracle at Lourdes officially declared?
The most recent miracle was officially declared on Feb. 11, 2018.
Who was involved in the most recent miracle at Lourdes?
The miraculous event involved Sister Bernadette Moriau, a French nun.
What condition did Sister Bernadette Moriau suffer from before her miracle?
She had been suffering from spinal complications that rendered her wheelchair-bound and fully disabled since 1980.
What happened to Sister Bernadette Moriau after attending the blessing at Lourdes?
She felt a surge of well-being and was able to walk away from her wheelchair, braces, and pain medications.
How do Catholics view miracles in relation to the existence of God?
Catholics argue that miracles prove the existence of God because they defy natural laws and indicate divine intervention.
What do miracles teach us about the nature of God?
Miracles teach us that God is loving, omnipotent (all powerful), and omniscient (all knowing).
What do Atheists argue about miracles proving the existence of God?
Atheists argue that miracles do not prove God’s existence because they believe that laws of nature can appear to be broken and unexpected events can happen without divine intervention.
What do Atheists say about the reliability of witnesses to miracles?
Atheists argue that witnesses can be mistaken or dishonest, making it impossible to trust their accounts of miracles.
What question do Atheists raise about the selectivity of miracles?
Atheists may ask why God helps one person with a miracle and not others, suggesting that the lack of pattern in miracles indicates they are likely coincidences.
How would Catholics respond to Atheists’ claims about miracles?
Catholics would argue that scientific and medical evidence shows certain diseases cannot be cured, so miraculous cures cannot be dismissed as mere coincidences.
What do Catholics say about the number of witnesses to miracles?
Catholics may argue that some miracles are experienced by many people simultaneously, suggesting that it is unreasonable to assume they are all mistaken or lying.
