Miracles

According to Hume, what is a miracle?

• An extraordinary event

• A progression of the laws of nature

• A transgression of the laws of nature

• An act of god

According to Aquinas, what is a miracle?

• When something distinct from the natural order as a whole intrudes into it

• A transgression of the laws of nature

• Those things which are not done by divine power

• Those things which are done by divine power apart from the order generally followed in things

Choose Aquinas' 3 categories of miracles.

• Events done by God that nature could never do

• Events done by God to show his omnipotence

• Events done by God that nature could do but not in that order

• Events that God does without the use of natural laws

• Events that God does which do not transcend natural laws

In what 2 ways does the New Testament speak about miracles?

• Shown as supernatural

• Shown as God's almighty power

• Shown as evidence for God

• Shown as modern healing

• Shown as signs

In biblical miracles, what is required to understand miracles?

• Faith

• Power

• Knowledge

• Love

Select 2 problems concerning the miracles of Jesus.

• How did Jesus choose who to heal

• They showed God's love to all people

• Medically immature so how do we know people were really ill or possessed

• Many were healed and praised God, proclaiming his love for Him

Who stated the Bible should be demythologised?

• Richard Dawkins

• Rudolph Bultmann

• Aristotle

• John Hick

Select 3 purposes of miracles in the Bible.

• To illustrate who rules over the earth

• To show Jesus really was the Messiah

• To demonstrate leadership

• To fulfil prophecy

• To show God's power

True or false: Hume rejects miracles.

• True

• False

Which is a 'soft' interpretation of Hume's understanding of miracles?

• The laws of nature are unalterable, therefore miracles are impossible

• A law of nature has been misstated, laws are adjusted for the new circumstance and there are no longer exceptions

• Natural laws can have exceptions - normal patterns of events that can be altered