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What are miracles essay
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Miracles seem to be out dated and never happen in our lives. Could the non-existence of miracles be because they are impossible or could it be that we have surrounded our lives with science and technology that we are not aware of the miracles that happen around us? Do we correctly use the term “miracle”? For example the hockey game that the U.S.A. and Soviet Union played in the 1980 Olympic Games is called the “Miracle on Ice”. Yes the U.S.A. were tremendous underdogs in the game but can their win classify as a “miracle”? We use the word miracle so loosely that the word has become more of a myth and we can never find a real miracle. Determining what miracles are, if they happen throughout in the present world and how miracles actually happen is what we need to find out in order to fully understand miracles.
Dictionary.com says a miracle is an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. This definition is a typical definition that any person in the world would say however it does not give full credit to God for miracles. The second definition given on dictionary.com is such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God. This second definition is how Christians should think of miracles. Miracles are works of God. In C.S. Lewis’ book, Miracles, he writes, “A miracle is emphatically not an event without cause or without results.” Miracles or works of God carry results that benefit others and also should make His name known. Miracles should give glory to God every single time because without God there are no miracles. In the Bible Jesus performs many miracles which He also passes down to His disciples. Jesus performed mir...
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...turally happened. Was that just by chance or was it one of God’s works?
Works Cited
"Denver Bronco Quarterback Tim Tebow Has Made John 3:16 Most Searched Item on Google." Local News, Weather Sports | Baltimore, MD | ABC2NEWS.COM | WMAR-TV. 10 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. .
Lewis, C. S. Miracles;. New York: Macmillan, 1972. Print.
Margenau, Henry. The Miracle of Existence. Woodbridge, CT: Ox Bow, 1984. Print.
Nichols, Terence L. The Sacred Cosmos: Christian Faith and the Challenge of Naturalism. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2003. Print.
Samons, Kris. "What Is a Biblical Definition of Miracle." Probe Ministries. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. .
Science and faith are generally viewed as two topics that do not intermingle. However, Andy Crouch’s work, Delight in Creation, suggests that there is an approach to both faith and science that allows support of scientists in the church community. There is an approach that can regard science as a career that can reflect the nature of God.
Paley, William. “Natural Theology,” in Introduction to Philosophy. 6th edition. Perry, Bratman, and Fischer. Oxford University Press. 2013, pp. 47-51.
Russell, Bertrand. Why I Am Not a Christian: And Other Essays on Religion and Related
Nichols, John. The. The Very Fundamentals of Christian Faith. Core 9 Lecture - "The. Shen Auditorium, Rensselaer, Germany.
Of course, it is hard for such a man to believe in extraordinary claims without being there to witness them. Especially when such events require a lot of faith. In order for an event to be deemed a miracle, it must disobey the laws of nature. However, it is these same laws that disprove almost any miracle that has ever been reported. He writes that some events that people report as miracles truly are not. For example, it is not a miracle that fire burns wood, or that a healthy man dies, because both of these are within the laws of nature. If a person does seemingly commit a miracle, they must do something that obviously defies the laws of nature and be able to do it repeatedly, as to prove that it is not a fluke.
In An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume, the idea of miracles is introduced. Hume’s argument is that there is no rational reason for human beings to believe in miracles, and that it is wrong to have miracles as the building blocks for religion. It is because the general notion of miracles come from the statement of others who claim to have seen them, Hume believes that there is no way to prove that those accounts are accurate, because they were not experienced first-hand. In order to believe a miracle, the evidence should be concrete, and something irrefutable. When there is any sort of doubt to a miracle, Hume says that any evidence that can be contrary to the proof of a miracle is merely evidence that the miracle did not happen, and it should be disproved. The only way a miracle can be proven is from the testimony of the person who had witnessed it, while any evidence against the miracle is something that defies the laws of nature. It falls upon the reputation of the witness to prove whether or not he or she actually observed a miracle, because a miracle can only be plausible when it is more likely than the opposing laws of nature. Hume’s reasoning in favour of miracles being insufficient events are also explanations as to why he believes miracles are not probable. First is the idea that human beings are not honest enough to be able to have possibly witnessed a miracle. Next is that human beings want to believe in the supernatural, and that desire allows us to believe in things that could never happen, simply because it would be wonderful and fantastical if that miracle actually did occur. Thirdly, the people who usually report sightings of a miracle are those who are uncivilized, or unsophisticated, so they ...
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.
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.
A Natural Theology for Our Time, Charles Hartshorne, La Salle, Ill. Open Court, 1967, pp. 116-20
Barbour, Ian G. Religion in an Age of Science. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990. Print. (BL 240.2 .B368 1990)
Faith and imagination is all about truth and the belief in a higher power beyond man himself. Faith and imagination binds the power of God’s existence. However, in lack of evidence and that which is unforeseen; consequently, if we know the value of life and understand that which is right and wrong; it truly acknowledges God’s presence among us. when people reference a “miracle” has happened; most people that hold faith as a powerful source don’t just assume the miracle came out of nowhere without some concept of a divine attribute connected to faith. A miracle is not an act based purely on a violation of natural law, but an act of God’s law and his true existence. And if man is to find his true purpose of his existence and fulfilling his life, he must adopt faith and reason.
Rust, Peter. 1992. How Has Life and Its Diversity Been Produced? Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 44 (2): 80-94.
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.
Stenmark, Mickael. How to Relate Science and Religion. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2004.
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. 2nd ed. New York City, NY: HarperOne, 2010.