Based on Pocket handbook of Christian apologetics (2003) by Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli. This is a course taught at LTCi, Siliguri.

1. Chapter 6:
Miracles
Pocket handbook of Christian apologetics (2003)
Peter Kreeft & Ronald Tacelli
Tuesday 29 November 2011

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Two questions about miracles
Philosophical question - are miracles
possible?
Historical question - are miracles actual
(do they happen)? This simply requires
some historical knowledge and/or
investigation, has it ever happened?
The philospohical question is the one that
apologists argue with people about - the
possibility of miracles needs to be decided
upon. People who do not believe in miracles
usually have some form of argument which
says miracles cannot happen.
Tuesday 29 November 2011

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Objections against miracles
As apologists we have to consider
what objections people might bring
against miracles. This is not to be
dealt with on an historical level, the
people here are probably objecting
on the basis of philosophical ideas
not historical validity - in other
words we are arguing on the level of
possibility (or an argument that they
are very improbable) - after all if they
are impossible we do not need to
consider historical “occurrences”.
Tuesday 29 November 2011

12. Objections against miracles
As apologists we have to consider
We should remember
what objections people might bring
against miracles. This isof the
that much not to be
dealt with on an historical level, the
fundamental truth of
people here are probably objecting
on the Christian faith is
the basis of philosophical ideas
not 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 they
arebiblical we do not need to
impossible inspiration...
consider historical “occurrences”.
Tuesday 29 November 2011

13. Objection #1
Miracles violate the principle
of uniformity of nature
Reply: what is the uniformity of
nature? Is this meant to suggest that
only natural causes lead to events in
the world - in which case it is like
saying that “miracles violate the
principle that miracles never happen”
Tuesday 29 November 2011

14. Objection #2
A miracle must by definition,
violate some law of nature,
and therefore must be a
maximally improbable event.
But then it is always more
likely the event never really
occurred as described (or
remembered), or that it did not
violate the laws of nature.
Tuesday 29 November 2011

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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