Dear Pat, I have just finished my study of C.S. Lewis's Miracles, and I wanted to discuss it with you. A miracle is an interference with Nature by a supernatural power. Since this is such a broad definition then there are obviously many opinions. Miracles either exist or the do not, and if they do exist then we must also ask how likely they are to occur. C.S Lewis explores both sides of this argument. Lewis notes that much of the world during his time came to believe that nothing existed except for what could be seen, smelled, heard, or tasted. People believed that there was nothing more than the natural world and the universe in which they lived. Although Lewis is careful not to classify any modern event as a miracle, they are possible, …show more content…
and they typically come at pivotal moments in history and sometimes even out of moments of great sorrow. We must recognize something outside of ourselves can possibly exist, maybe not on a regular basis, but the possibility is there. The grandest of all miracles is the Incarnation of God, and this event is the one that allows me to believe that Miracles do exist. For C.S. Lewis, the word "miracle" is not an observation, it is an interpretation of an observation. That interpretation is determined by the mind and outlook of the observer. Our personal philosophy, religious ideas, education, and experience allow us as human beings to interpret a certain event in terms of the likelihood it has happened. Miracles are outside of nature and science cannot disprove that they exist. Every claim of a miracle can be refuted, but not all of them can be disproved, and just because something is questioned does not mean that it did not occur. As smart as we think we are, we have a limited understanding of the world and being surprised from time to time is inevitable. Logically we know that lightning does not mean that the Zeus is throwing lightning bolts from the heavens, but realistically we need to find new reasons for these surprises. If God made the universe then why can't it have the capacity for miracles? The divine action of creation is in itself a miracle so why cant more miracles occur? Pat, as human beings, we must use our sense of reason to determine and make sense of things and we must infer things based on those sensations. We must think about events and determine their validity through reason because reasoning is older than nature and the order of nature is derived from it. The human mind knowingly acts out of reason. Rational thoughts have allowed us to alter the course of nature for example: the hoover dam, space exploration, medical breakthroughs, and many other things and nature, in contrast, cannot produce rational thought and instead destroys reason in the instance of disease and natural disasters. The relationship between nature and reason is asymmetrical thus the possibility of miracles exists. Miracles are not breaking the laws of nature, they are simply interfering with them.
Mary's pregnancy and Jesus' birth followed the laws of nature after the miraculous conception occurred. A miracles cause is the activity of God, and its results follow natural law. Over the course of our religious teachings, we have learned that God performed many miracles, and because we believe in our religious education, and believe in our heart and mind that these things occurred, then we do believe in miracles. If miracles do not exist then what is the explanation behind so many of the events that have occurred over the course of …show more content…
time. Pat, we both believe in God and if we admit there is a God, then we admit that there are miracles. Miracles are not gimmicks made up to get out of a difficult situation, the resurrection was not a desperate last minute act to save the Hero from a situation that had gotten out of control, the death and Resurrection are essential to the story. The resurrection is a miracle and tells us that there is a deeper reality beyond what we see everyday. There is something beyond us, deeper then the reality we think we know. There is more to life then just life and death. The deeper reality and the acceptance of miracles is there for us to explore. I believe that people sometimes exaggerate what they think is a miracle, which only causes skeptics to further discredit a miracle, bringing us to encounter a lot of negative feedback.
Today's society is made up of stories, lies, exaggerations, misunderstandings, and hearsay, and determining the validity and probability of a miracle is essential to maintaining the acceptance of the miracle. Is it miraculous that when we wish for snow day from school it comes true? Of course not. Is it miraculous that God was able to turn water into wine? Loaves into fish? Heal the injured and sick? Absolutely. Pat, I am letting you know that despite what people may say when it comes to miracles, if you have faith in your common sense, your knowledge, and your interpretation of events, you will know when something is a miracle. Miracles do not occur everyday, they are special, they are Gods way of interacting with nature. You have to always remember that God is supernatural and although you cannot always understand the finite things that occur through him, it does not invalidate the
results. Next week is Christmas, the incarnation of God when he became man, every other miracle has prepared for this and results from this event. Miracles are arbitrary, the credibility of miracles depends on their relationship with this grand miracle. This grand miracle is the central event in the history of the Earth. The incarnation shows us the power of something great including something less. God is the inventor, maker, owner, and controller of nature, he is above nature and has the ability to perform miracles. All things are possible because of the one Grand Miracle of Earth. Christian miracles such as this show that the power behind such an event is not an alien, but a sovereign being. Pat, you may never see a true miracle in your lifetime but trust in your natural feelings and separate yourself from science and skeptics, believe in your heart that miracles exist because of the Grand Miracle Central to the history of Earth.
Thesis Statement: About Thirteen years ago, Ray Lewis a Baltimore Ravens linebacker was involved in an disagreement outside a nightclub in Atlanta where Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar were stabbed to death. Ray Lewis and his fellow associates left the scene. With blood found on his white suit Lewis would later be blamed for the murder charges of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar while pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.
The Lewis Blackman Case: Ethics, Law, and Implications for the Future Medical errors in decision making that result in harm or death are tragic and costly to the families affected. There are also negative impacts to the medical providers and the associated institutions (Wu, 2000). Patient safety is a cornerstone of higher-quality health care and nurses serve as a communication link in all settings which is critical in surveillance and coordination to reduce adverse outcomes (Mitchell, 2008). The Lewis Blackman Case 1 of 1 point accrued
C.S. Lewis is commonly regarded as one of the most influential Christian apologists during his time. While many recognize him as the writer of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” he was also an out-spoken Christian. He commonly wrote pieces of work that challenged Christians in their faith as well as in their lives. He wrote many non-fiction novels that dealt with this sort of behavior, including “Mere Christianity,” “Miracles,” and “The Problem of Pain.” Even in some of his fictional novels, his writing had many Christian themes as well. Despite being well-known for his novels, he also wrote many poems as well. His poetry dealt with many different subject matters, including morals, war, science fiction, and Christianity. Almost all of his poetry
In his discussion 'Of Miracles' in Section X of An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, Hume defines a miracle as “a violation of the laws of nature and as a firm and unalterable experience has established these laws”1. Basically a miracle is something that happens which is contrary to what would happen given the structure of the universe. He also states that a miracle is a “transgression of a law of nature by a particular volation of the deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent”2. Hume argues that it is impossible to deduce the existence of a deity from the existence of the world, and that causes cannot be determined from effects.
Lewis Hine - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Lewis Hine was a photographer in the early 1900's. He photographed children, women, and men. Lewis Hine did not just photograph all the good things, he also took pictures of the hard things too, like the boys working in the mines, to the girls working in the sweatshops. In 1911, Lewis Hine took a job with the National Child Labor Committee. He then used his photography to show the world what it is really like to live in America during the Depression. Lewis Hine always respected his subjects. He never wanted to take photos of random people. He wanted to capture something that nobody else saw. He felt a moral obligation to share with the world the visions of children, women, and the horrible working conditions they were forced to work in.
In the mid 1900's, America was finally now an independent country, but had many flaws within their undeveloped system. Racism and segregation towards African Americans was at an all time high in the Southern states. With the Jim Crow laws in place, the privileges that white Americans had were overwhelmingly more than African Americans had ("Civil Rights Movement," para. 1). During this period of injustice in our country's history, there were many activists of equal rights, both black and white. While there were many people who helped the cause, one of the most influential civil rights activists was John Lewis.
I believe that in Lewis’s view people reject God because of the choices that they make, for some it is by their actions, others it is self-fulfillment, but for all it is their choice of how they interact with God. People reject God when they choose to remain separate from God instead of fully embracing a life with God. Lewis introduces us to many ghosts who make decisions resisting heaven and returning to hell. They get stuck in their decisions because they are lost, for one reason or another; they are unable to completely and fully accept God in their lives. They believe it is easier, “better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.” (71 ) Lewis explains “There is always something they prefer to joy” (71). We are introduced
There are many miraculous people on this planet. Some of these people have had miraculous experiences, others have accomplished miraculous success, and some people remind us of how miraculous our lives really are. Every now and then someone comes along who shows us that miracles really are possible. That was what a mentally handicapped African American boy from Anderson, South Carolina was put on this Earth to do.
Miracles. An event that happens that cannot scientifically and logically be explained. Miracles tend to happen in the most unexpected ways. Even though many people tend to not believe in miracles, for different reasons, I, however, believe that miracles happen every day to different people all over the world. Miracle on Ice was truly and definitely a miracle. How is it possible for a group of college kids to overcome the challenge of beating a full, grown, experienced, USSR team? It’s not. It’s a miracle.
In conclusion, Even though we will never experience the sight of an angel or have a miracle to appreciate, we often forget to accept the common and normal things that we have until it is too late. We may search most of our whole lives for something, only to have it later pass us right by. At the end, just as in the beginning, a normal person is confronted with a series of unbelievable events, and fails to see this amazing moment happening in their life. In the end, the family probably goes back to their everyday lives, never truly understanding and appreciating the miracle that they had just witnessed.
So why does the existence of miracles have any meaning at all? Belief in miracles helps to bring a sense of the divine existence of God to those who believe in a material way. Miracles are a way for signs from God to be transferred to mankind, in a way that we are able to understand. These miracles or signs from God can help to show divine favour, and to support our moral beliefs and ideology, to let us know that we are on the path of righteousness for those who believe. But what then, constitutes a miracle? A miracle, according to Hume, is a violation of the laws of nature, something that cannot happen, but does. (Hume, 1777,E10.12) I believe that Hume believes that the the laws of nature, cannot ever be violated, for if one believes that this is possible, then the laws of nature are fallible and belief in the laws of nature which should be unalterable, would no longer apply. It is therefore, far more reasonable to believe that the laws of nature, which have proven themselves over and over again, are in fact to be believed and accepted over any possiblity for the existence of a miracle.
C.S Lewis’ last work, Till We Have Faces, tells the love story of Cupid and Psyche through the eyes of Psyche’s unattractive sister, Orual. Orual spends the majority of her life dealing with the loss of Psyche after she was sacrificed to the gods. Another problem Orual faces is the struggle of running a country on her own while having a very unattractive face. Because of Orual’s “ugliness”, she dons a veil over her face, and holds a grudge with the gods after the banishment of her sister when she attempted to see the face of Cupid. After the book’s conclusion, the reader is still left with the question about what the book’s true meaning is. By using the symbolism of these two events, what was C.S Lewis trying to convey? C.S Lewis is using
The only point that I thought completely supported their existence is that they were mentioned by non-Christian texts. The trouble is that they were not eyewitnesses; miracles could be rumors that could be messed up through retelling. I understand that eyewitnesses wrote the gospels and so if they said they saw miracles, they probably happened. Is there any other evidence though? Miracles to not be very well historically supported compared to other elements backed in this book. Why was indirect evidence not mentioned? The resurrection of Jesus is more credible because of the indirect evidence, such as the empty
The Bible and the written laws of nature are like two different books. These books are written and read in completely different languages. The Bible was written in the view of people of that time; whereas, science laws are constantly written and changed for modern world. Therefore, there always will be some controversy between two thoughts. There are still many unknown things in the world that science is yet to find out. Christianity on the other hand accepts extraordinary occurrences and prevents science from explaining things that it cannot. Christianity is needed to explain unbelievable phenomena that are part of our daily life.
Let me ask you a question, do you believe in miracles? Or, more appropriately, do you consider, that in today’s scientific era, it is illogical to relate a fact out of common sense, to one that would establish a witness for the intervention of a supernatural being? Here’s a moment to think a about it. Let me guess, you’re sitting there trying to make up your mind. Don’t worry; you’re not the first person that does not believe in miracles. In the past, some two centuries ago, Scottish philosopher David Hume did not believe either. And probably you have good reason not to either. But, let’s not diverse.