1. Hume’s arguments forHume’s arguments for
miraclesmiracles
AQA AS Religious StudiesAQA AS Religious Studies

2. Hume’s 4 ArgumentsHume’s 4 Arguments
Hume had four arguments when it came toHume had four arguments when it came to
challenging the existence of miracleschallenging the existence of miracles
►Witnesses are unreliableWitnesses are unreliable
►Wishful thinking plays a partWishful thinking plays a part
►Ancient, distant sourcesAncient, distant sources
►Different faiths prove one another wrongDifferent faiths prove one another wrong

3. Witnesses are unreliableWitnesses are unreliable
►Hume argues that most miracle claimsHume argues that most miracle claims
come from poverty stricken, uneducatedcome from poverty stricken, uneducated
culturescultures
►For a witness to be reliable there wouldFor a witness to be reliable there would
have to be a sufficient amount of people tohave to be a sufficient amount of people to
witness the miraclewitness the miracle
►They would all have to be well educatedThey would all have to be well educated
wealthy men, people that can be trusted notwealthy men, people that can be trusted not
to be ignorantto be ignorant

4. Wishful thinking plays a partWishful thinking plays a part
►Hume says that is a person tells their storyHume says that is a person tells their story
of a miracle with enough passion andof a miracle with enough passion and
enthusiasm this will cause others to be moreenthusiasm this will cause others to be more
likely to believe in what they hearlikely to believe in what they hear
►Religious believers are also willing to giveReligious believers are also willing to give
false evidence of a miracle and justify doingfalse evidence of a miracle and justify doing
so by saying that they have the bestso by saying that they have the best
intentions (to increase peoples faith), e.g.intentions (to increase peoples faith), e.g.
crying statues…crying statues…

5. Ancient, distant sourcesAncient, distant sources
► Hume says that religious miracles have been toldHume says that religious miracles have been told
through scripture and storiesthrough scripture and stories
► But through time science has come up withBut through time science has come up with
explanations for these miracles (the 10 plagues hasexplanations for these miracles (the 10 plagues has
been pinned down to nature)been pinned down to nature)
► In these ancient times people were more likely toIn these ancient times people were more likely to
believe without question as their ignorant religiousbelieve without question as their ignorant religious
attitude told them toattitude told them to
► Stories have most likely been exaggerated toStories have most likely been exaggerated to
intrigue people over time, how reliable is a story thatintrigue people over time, how reliable is a story that
was heard from someone who heard it fromwas heard from someone who heard it from
someone else?someone else?

6. Different faithsDifferent faiths
►Hume makes the point that in every religionHume makes the point that in every religion
there have been claims of miraclesthere have been claims of miracles
happeninghappening
►Jesus’ miracles, Elijah, Moses ect…Jesus’ miracles, Elijah, Moses ect…
►Surely not all of these miracles can beSurely not all of these miracles can be
correct and must cancel each other outcorrect and must cancel each other out
►Which one can be trusted if any?Which one can be trusted if any?

7. Different faithsDifferent faiths
►Hume makes the point that in every religionHume makes the point that in every religion
there have been claims of miraclesthere have been claims of miracles
happeninghappening
►Jesus’ miracles, Elijah, Moses ect…Jesus’ miracles, Elijah, Moses ect…
►Surely not all of these miracles can beSurely not all of these miracles can be
correct and must cancel each other outcorrect and must cancel each other out
►Which one can be trusted if any?Which one can be trusted if any?