Apologetics, Kreeft chapter 6: Miracles

Chapter 6: Miracles Pocket handbook of Christian apologetics (2003) Peter Kreeft & Ronald TacelliTuesday 29 November 2011

A miracle is “a striking and religiously signiﬁcant intervention of God in the system of natural causes”Tuesday 29 November 2011

1. The idea of miracles presupposes that nature is a self contained system of natural causes - only in that there are regularities can there be irregularities 2. A miracle is not a contradiction - a man walking through a wall is a miracle, a man both walking through a wall and not walking through a wall at the same time is a contradiction - God performs miracles but not contradictions (which are meaningless)Tuesday 29 November 2011

1. The idea of miracles contradiction is a presupposes that nature |ˌkäntrəˈdik sh ən| self contained system of natural causes - only in that there are regularities can there be * a combination of statements, irregularities ideas, or features of a situation 2. A miracle is not a contradiction - a manone that are opposed to walking through a wall is a miracle, a man another both walking through a wall and not walking through a wall at the same * a person, thing, or- situation time is a contradiction God performs miracles but notelements in which inconsistent contradictions (which are are present meaningless)Tuesday 29 November 2011

1. The idea of miracles presupposes that nature is a self contained system of natural causes - only in that there are regularities can there be irregularities 2. A miracle is not a contradiction - a man walking through a wall is a miracle, a man both walking through a wall and not walking through a wall at the same time is a contradiction - God performs miracles but not contradictions (which are meaningless)Tuesday 29 November 2011

Two questions about miraclesPhilosophical question - are miraclespossible?Historical question - are miracles actual(do they happen)? This simply requiressome historical knowledge and/orinvestigation, has it ever happened?The philospohical question is the one thatapologists argue with people about - thepossibility of miracles needs to be decidedupon. People who do not believe in miraclesusually have some form of argument whichsays miracles cannot happen.Tuesday 29 November 2011

To believe miracles happen you have to believe in a miracle worker - you have to believe some form of God exists. Then we can say miracles are possible - although God might choose not to make this possibility a reality. Are God and the world both open to miracles happening? There is nothing in the nature of God that says he would not make a miracle happen - he is omnipotent and can do it, we cannot know a priori if he will though.Tuesday 29 November 2011

To believe miracles happen you have a priori |ˈä prēˈôrē; you to believe in a miracle worker - have to believe some form of God * relating to or denoting are exists. Then we can say miracles possible - although God might that reasoning or knowledge choose not to make this possibility a proceeds from theoretical reality. deduction rather than from to Are God and the world both open observation or experience miracles happening? There is nothing in the nature of God that says he would not make a * in a way based on miracle happen - he is omnipotent theoretical deduction rather and can do it, we cannot know a than ifempirical observation priori he will though.Tuesday 29 November 2011

To believe miracles happen you have to believe in a miracle worker - you have to believe some form of God exists. Then we can say miracles are possible - although God might choose not to make this possibility a reality. Are God and the world both open to miracles happening? There is nothing in the nature of God that says he would not make a miracle happen - he is omnipotent and can do it, we cannot know a priori if he will though.Tuesday 29 November 2011

Can we object to miracles from the position of nature - here we have already acknowledged that God created nature - if God can bring the world out of a Big Bang then he can add some smaller bangs of miracles! If nature is made by God for God - then he can do miracles.Tuesday 29 November 2011

Objections against miraclesAs apologists we have to considerwhat objections people might bringagainst miracles. This is not to bedealt with on an historical level, thepeople here are probably objectingon the basis of philosophical ideasnot historical validity - in otherwords we are arguing on the level ofpossibility (or an argument that theyare very improbable) - after all if theyare impossible we do not need toconsider historical “occurrences”.Tuesday 29 November 2011

Objections against miraclesAs apologists we have to consider We should rememberwhat objections people might bringagainst miracles. This isof the that much not to bedealt with on an historical level, the fundamental truth ofpeople here are probably objectingon the Christian faith is the basis of philosophical ideasnot historical validity - in other - based on “miracles”words we are arguing on the level of incarnation,possibility (or an argument that they resurrection, salvation,are very improbable) - after all if theyarebiblical we do not need to impossible inspiration...consider historical “occurrences”.Tuesday 29 November 2011

Objection #1Miracles violate the principleof uniformity of natureReply: what is the uniformity ofnature? Is this meant to suggest thatonly natural causes lead to events inthe world - in which case it is likesaying that “miracles violate theprinciple that miracles never happen”Tuesday 29 November 2011

Objection #2A miracle must by deﬁnition,violate some law of nature,and therefore must be amaximally improbable event.But then it is always morelikely the event never reallyoccurred as described (orremembered), or that it did notviolate the laws of nature.Tuesday 29 November 2011

A miracle does not violate the laws of nature in the same way the college principal does not violate college law by cancelling classes for a special event. A violation can only take place when an established order has to be upheld and someone refuse to do so. God has authority over the whole universe and so he cannot violate it (and would not feel guilt or embarrassment about it). In a miracle all God does is change the schedule for the day.Tuesday 29 November 2011

A second response goes this way: why should miracles be considered maximally improbable? They are unusual but how do we know whether or not they are likely to occur? Such a conclusion only comes from already having decided that God does not exist or that he would never work a miracle.Tuesday 29 November 2011

Objection #3 How can we ever know it is God and not a mere god (or a demon) who is responsible for this or that striking intervention in the natural order of things?Tuesday 29 November 2011

Context is important here - looking at the miracles of Jesus and the relationship he claimed to have with the Father, we come to three possible conclusions: 1. Sincere lunatic 2. Demonic fraud 3. The Son of God, and therefore his deeds were in the fullest sense miracles. The three possibilities need to be considered in the light of the life, character and message of the one conveying the.Tuesday 29 November 2011

Apologetics, Kreeft chapter 6: Miracles

by Richard Chamberlain

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