Re: [asa] Miracles in ordinary events

Jon Tandy wrote:

> To take this further, I've read a number of times the definition of
> "miracle" as something which violates known natural processes.  For
> instance, from Gordon Glover's excellent book Beyond the Firmament, is
> the suggestion, "Because these rare events are contrary to the
> uniformity of nature and to our everyday human experience, we call
> them miracles."
>  
> My comment to this, however, is that an extraordinarily timed,
> perfectly natural event, is just as miraculous as one which violates
> the known laws of nature.  I've suggested this one before without much
> comment that I remember, so (at the risk of bring wrong about this one
> example) what if the crossing of the Red Sea was actually a natural
> phenomenon which occurred at just the right moment for the
> Israelites?  Would it be any less a miracle?

The theologians among us can comment, but my understanding of "miracle"
is that it is a sign that points to God and reveals something of God
character or will. It does not necessarily have anything to do with
violations of the regularity of natural processes upheld and sustained
by God. Most "miracles" fall under this category. One example that I
use is of Jesus calming the sea. If Jesus had not been in the boat or
never gave his verbal command, would it have been considered a miracle?
  If was not the event itself, but its context that made it a "sign."
This is consistent with your comment above.

Keith

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Received on Tue Feb 19 14:44:21 2008