Miracles - A Philosophical Question

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   L. Andrew Marrposted 14 years ago

   I'm not usually one to post something in the religion section - however, I have a philosophy essay due in tomorrow.
   
   My teacher is absolutely rubbish so I was wondering what you lot think.
   
   "Stories about miracles are an obstacle to faith for modern people. Discuss"
   
   Any help would be good =]
   
   Cheers,
   
   Luke.

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      Pacal Votanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      When I hear the story of a miracle I either don't believe it or I do, but either way, it doesn't have a lasting impact on me. Miracles or no miracles, human nature has its way eventually.

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      terenceyap07posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      When hearing a story about a "miracle", one must first consider the source from where this story originated. There are few people whom we can really trust these days. With so many hoaxes and misinformation reported in the news, it's all too easy to rest in the complacency of skepticism which serves as a defence mechanism to safegaurd us from having to be disappointed over and over again.
      
      People have claimed to have witnessed, or performed, miracles that were either too unbelieveable or, that were later reported to be nothing more than erroneous observation/reporting or scams.
      
      Stories about miracles are obstacles to faith for people today because modern man has been decieved and disappointed too many times. The resulting air of cynicism that exists in today's society is an understandable response to the many inaccurate, biased or blatantly false reports on the news.
      
      Stories are only stories and nothing else. For one to believe in the existence in miracles, one would have to to believe in the existence of a higher intelligence/power above and beyond science.
      
      Even if a person was to miraculously be healed from a terminal medical condition, modern man would attribute it to naturally occurring scientific "phenomena" yet to be discovered.
      
      When looking at the state this world is in these days, many people are disheartened that any god could allow all the atrocities that plague us.
      
      Regardless, who's to say that miracles do not exist?
      
      *smiles*

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      SparklingJewelposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am finding more and more that miracles are truly and uniquely subjective, or sometimes only perceived as such to a particular group of people that know each other or follow a similar spiritual path. Sometimes trying to describe miracles if like trying to define God...no one can truly understand another's perception of God's Universal Order.

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      vrajavalaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      there is something called "synchronicity", which Carl Jung spoke about. http://www.carl-jung.net/synchronicity.html   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronicity  I hope this helps. I believe that James Redfield and his mentor Carlos Casteneda also believed in this mystical occurrence as well.

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         As do post Jungians such as Von Franz, Hillman et al.
         There is much empirical evidence of phenomena that is related to synchronicity.

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      pioneer_writer5posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That is a strange question. Does faith here refer to religious belief? what kind of miracles are being referred to? Are they the stories about alien abduction, someone who defies death in some circumstance that others couldn't? I think that miracles can and do happen. However, it takes belief to call them miracles. What defines what a miracle is or when one has taken place? To me, the question your instructor posed is an oxymoronic question. A miracle is only a miracle to those who cannot comprehend  the mechanics of the situation. I am religious, but I know that the laws of the universe are mathematically and scientifically based. When God performed miracles, he used these principles to cause the sun to stand still for Joshua during a war. Now to some this was impossible. But for those who have faith, it was a miracle--
      For God it was merely a mathematical equation.

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      Brenda Durhamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with whoever said miracles are NOT an obstacle to faith.
      
      I consider simply life itself a miracle and acknowledging that takes Faith.
      
      It's the false "miracle-workers" who are an obstacle to Faith in this modern age.
      
      In Bible times, the disciples performed miracles with the right attitude and purpose---as a testimony to the power of Faith in Christ.
      
      Way too often these days, "miracles" are "performed" with the intent of focusing on someone other than Christ.

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      mohitmisraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I would say they are an encouragement and not obstacle. People want miracles in order to believe. 
      The Sikhs saints forbid their children from creating miracles as they understood the perfection of everything.

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   Jeramiposted 14 years ago

   If you had ever experienced the birth of your son or daughter you could say that you have experienced a miracle of your very own.

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   AEvansposted 14 years ago

   Miracles have happened for me that I can certainly atttest to and they certainly are not obstacles to faith. There isn't anyway a miracle could be an obstacle for modern people, the question is do they or do they not believe in miracles? It depends to whom you are speaking to.

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   QuirkyPearlposted 14 years ago

   Holding the head of my grandaughter as she was born 9 weeks ago, delivering her into this world and waiting for 2 and a half minutes while she took her first breath in my kitchen, was an amazing wonderful experience, the unable to be seen by the naked eye 'word'... etched deeply in my heart, reads Miracle. in capital letters

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Wow! I think many will relate to that! Congratulations by the way.

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         QuirkyPearlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you

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   The Ropeposted 14 years ago

   To experience a "miracle" is a matter of belief, to hear about a "miracle" is limiting since it defines the listener's experience.  A limit of anything is an obstacle to the next person requiring that person to find a way beyond the limit.

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   logic,commonsenseposted 14 years ago

   It will be a miracle if I ever get a check from Adsense!

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