theme 3E miracles definitions

Question 1

intro - miracles definitions

Answer 1

• ‘miracle’ is derived from the Latin word ‘wonder’
• all religions report miracles and their holy books contain accounts of miracles
• eg in OT and NT miracles of the resurrection
• miracles can strengthen faith (eg lourdes) but also weaken faith if one doesn’t ever experience a miracle

Question 2

P1 Aquinas first type of miracle

Answer 2

• events done by God which nature could never do (eg stopping the sun Joshua’s account)

Question 3

P2 Aquinas second type of miracle

Answer 3

• events done but god which nature could do but not in that order (eg someone living after death)

Question 4

P3 Aquinas third type of miracle

Answer 4

• events done by God which nature can do but god does by bypassing natural laws (eg instant healing)
• God can either act as a primary cause (directly performing a miracle), or as a secondary cause (acting through human agents), this is known as double agency

Question 5

P4 Hume

Answer 5

• an event that breaks natural laws and has a divine cause, Eg. a person raising from the dead
  Remember that Hume is an empiricist. He does not accept anything as true unless there is empirical evidence to support it.

Question 6

P5 Swinburne

Answer 6

• argues miracles are a violation of a law of nature by God that is a very powerful rational being who is not a material object
• if smth breaks the laws of nature it should be classed as a miracle if the following criteria is met:
• the time scale in which it occurs should be quicker than the norm
• there needs to be a deeper significance e.g. it could show God’s nature to the world e.g. healing Miracles need to hold some deeper religious significance, or point beyond themselves to an underlying reality or plan
• ‘If God exists than one might as well expect him to make his presence known to man by dealing personally with him’

Question 7

P6 Holland

Answer 7

• “A miracle is a coincidental event which can be interpreted religiously”
• Holland’s example of this is a boy on a train track who is saved when the driver faints. Is this a miracle or a coincidence? It is true that it very much depends upon interpretation of the event.
• A non-religious person would put this down to luck but a religious person would interpret this as a miracle, Even though no natural law has been broken

Question 8

Are the definitions adequate (Yes)

Answer 8

• Reasonable to say they break laws of nature
• Reasonable to say intervention of God
• Variety of definitions allows individuals to choose which one best reflects their view
• Aquinas has types
• Swinburne has criteria

Question 9

Are the definitions adequate. (No)

Answer 9

• Laws of nature put in place by God therefore wouldn’t be broken
• If God intervenes then why not do so more often?
• So many different definitions makes it difficult to agree on what constitutes a miracle.

Question 10

Do the definitions contradict? (Yes)

Answer 10

• Some include break in law of nature others don t (Holland)
• Some include divine intervention others do not (Holland)
• Hume says no evidence of miracles, Swinburne says there is evidence)

Question 11

B Do the definitions contradict? (No)

Answer 11

• Majority include break in law of nature
• Majority include divine intervention
• Similarities between Aquinas and Swinburne (timescale)
• Hume and Swinburne have same definition, but Hume concludes they don’t happen, Swinburne concludes that they do. They differ on how they interpret evidence.