Unit AS 7 - An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
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Contemporary and Historical Examples
Miracle on the Hudson - the landing of the passenger plane - 150 passengers and 5
crew: "the most successful ditching in aviation history." 15th January 2009
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?
q=you+tube+miracle+on+the+hudson&view=detail&mid=061934B914F3996D056C0
61934B914F3996D056C&FORM=VIRE&adlt=strict
Miracle Saving of the Chilean Miners 2010 - The 33 miners trapped more than 2,000
feet underground at a gold-copper mine in San Jose, Chile, were stuck below the
earth for 69 days. The disaster was caused when a rock 550 feet tall and twice the
weight of the Empire State Building shifted, causing a chain reaction that blocked all
passages of escape.
New Testament examples: the resurrection of Christ, the healing of the lame man at
the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3), the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), the
virgin birth, etc.
Old Testament examples: the burning bush (Exodus 3), the 10 plagues on Egypt, the
healing of Naaman the leper, the provision of food for Elijah the prophet, etc.
Miracles at Lourdes - It's the focal point of the pilgrimage 6m believers make each
year. Many believe that there, miracles happen and that the sick can become well-
though the church is more concerned about ‘miracles of the soul”. In 1858,
Bernadette said she saw Virgin Mary 18 times
Sceptics might argue that we need to explore the capacity of our mind or simply
dismiss miracles as delusions: Dr Raj Persaud and Uri Geller, think that what we call
miracles are simply examples of the power of the mind to command the body.
We still know so little about the way the mind functions that it would be rash indeed
to rule out this explanation of what are otherwise inexplicable "cures".
Other Aspects of Human Experience
Lennox and Polkinghorne both accept that God uses his own laws of the universe to
bring about his own purpose. This is not ‘breaking the laws’ but restoring what
should have been before the fall. Keller agrees that God can use His universe to bring
His glory.
Today, infertile couples no longer have to accept a childless life since IVF and
surrogacy have been greatly developed and give couples a chance of having a child.
When a lot of couples look at their infertility as a sign from God, a sign that they are
to live a different path even if they desperately want to have a family.
Miracles pose a danger to the very idea of God. God is known as an omnibenevolent
being, so many of his miracles are to individuals and created a positive impact on
them alone, like when Jesus healed the blind man. If God is omnipotent, then he
should have the power to end world hunger for millions.
People may seek abortions when they discover their child has been diagnosed with
Down’s Syndrome instead of seeking prayer or a miracle for health. People choose to
have faith in medicine rather than in God. Rather than seeking a miracle, people are
more likely to seek the actions of a medical expert to terminate the pregnancy.
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