Miracles

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How does Swinburne define a miracle?
An event of an extraordinary kind, brought about by a God and of religious significance.
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What are Rudolf Otto's six features that separate Miracles from Religious experience?
1-They tend to be public 2-They have witnesses 3-They're different to Private RE's 4-Supernatural 5-Not explained by science 6- RE's get naturalistic explanations
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What are Aquinas' three types of Miracle?
1-Incredible but within the laws of nature, 2-Incredible but outside of ordinary nature, 3-Incredible and against the laws of nature
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How does Hume define Miracles?
"Transgression of the laws of nature by particular volition of the deity or the interposition of some invisible agent."
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What is the problem of natural law?
Natural laws explain the past and present. If a miracle is the violation of a natural law then it was never really a law, because nothing can break a natural law. So there was no miracle to begin with.
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What is the problem in regards to God's nature?
It makes him arbitrary, because the holocaust is okay, but he needs to make the virgin Mary appear to a kid for some reason.
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What is Wiles response to miracles in regards to God's nature?
If God intervened in the world, he would be arbitrary and unworthy of worship, nor would he be worthy if he made a world in which he needed to break natural laws. The world is a single act of God, and he doesn't interact individually.
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How does R.F Holland respond to the natural law conundrum?
He says that if something breaches a natural law, it is not broken but falsified. Coincidences happen which show us that the world doesn't work in the way we thought it did. The concept of a miracle as thebreach of a natural law shows it's impossible
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What is the issue of religious plurality?
People of different religions have experiences of their own deities.
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How does Paul Tillich respond to the issue of religious plurality?
Miracles are sign events, understood in terms of their impact on a person. You can't separate miracles from religious context. It is a religious experience that serves as a revelation from God.
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What does Gareth Moore (G.E Moore???) believe?
God is nothing- it refers to no being. Miracles have no cause, it is a term used by believers to explain events that they have no other explanation for. Other people call it inexplicable. God is responsible, but he didn't cause them.
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What does Hume believe?
For the most part the person is either mistaken or lying, "we should always believe the least miraculous thing". We should always consider the evidence for and against and decide whether or not to believe."the educated, sensible or reputable"
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How might you argue that breaching natural order is different for God?
Natural law for God is like social law for us- we can't break it because we are below him- he created them as guidelines for himself, but they can be breached in extreme cases.
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How might you argue that religious plurality is a reflection of God's benevolence?
God is displaying his benevolence by revealing himself in different ways; preserving faith in different religions, doesn't care what faith as long as good - knows through faith, perpetuates their belief so they keep acting like good people.
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What is Ockham's razor?
The idea that the simplest explanation for an event is typically the most philosophically viable. God is the simplest answer.
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What is Swinburne's principle of credulity?
We should take all testimony unless we have specific reason not to, and it is wrong to insist that all miracles are wrong because they can't be scientifically proven.
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What is the defence against the arbitrary God?
There may be a bigger picture thing going on that we just don't get, and humanity needs to go through suffering to reach that. He intervenes when we stray from the path.
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Name some criticisms of Hume's criticisms.
1- A miracle may be improbable but it doesn't have to be impossible 2-can we really dismiss all testimony? 3-He doesn't address personal miracles 4-we can't limit our beliefs or we would never learn anything new.
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What is a realist?
A person who believes that matter + objects have a real existence beyond this world- they believe that Miracles do happen, performed by God to increase faith.
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What is an antirealist?
Someone who questions everything, coincidences and similar events are not miracles, God plays no part.
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Name three miracles
1917- In Portugal, two kids see the Virgin Mary. Toronto Blessing. 1950- Nebraska, Church choir shows up 10 minutes late for the first time. It had blown up.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are Rudolf Otto's six features that separate Miracles from Religious experience?

Back

1-They tend to be public 2-They have witnesses 3-They're different to Private RE's 4-Supernatural 5-Not explained by science 6- RE's get naturalistic explanations

Card 3

Front

What are Aquinas' three types of Miracle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How does Hume define Miracles?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the problem of natural law?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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