gmurphy@raex.com writes:
<< A couple of points here:
1) Miracles should not be evaluated simply as isolated events. The
Christian claim about the resurrection is not that some otherwise
undistinguished
Jew 2000 years ago spoke with his friends after he was dead and buried. It
is
that in the history of Israel (& thus in the context of the hopes & promises
of
the OT) a man who relied entirely on God as his Father, who proclaimed the
kingdom of God and called for radical love & acceptance of others, & who
died in
humiliating defeat because of that, was raised from the dead. It is the
entire
story (& at that I'm abbreviating a good deal) which has to be evaluated, not
just isolated claims about appearances of Jesus or the empty tomb.
2) Agreed, one doesn't have to have saving faith to believe that
miracles would happen. Conversely, belief in a miracle isn't equivalent to
saving faith. One could belief that Jesus was raised from the dead without
thinking that he is God Incarnate and/or putting one's trust in him.>>
This is an essential part of a full answer to the question.
Paul
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