Miracles: What are they? Should they be a normative part of Christian experience?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Berserk

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2019
878
670
93
76
Colville
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
This thread focuses on the question of where the line can be drawn between true 'miracles," acts of divine providence," and mere "coincidence." To discern your own attitude to this important line, watch this mesmerizing video of 5 alleged "miracles" unfolding as they happened and share your reactions:

5 real miracles caught on camera - Bing video

Few people are aware of ongoing scientific research on faith-healing or consciousness changes that lead to the healing of incurable diseases. Here are just two examples for you to check out:
(1) One impressive example of the scientific verification of miracles is the 40-member team of medical specialists whose thorough investigation has verified so many healings at Lourdes thought to be medically impossible:

Medical Bureau Confirms 69 Miracle Healings at Lourdes.

(2) A research professor at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Jeffrey Rediger. has written a ground-breaking new book entitled "Cured: The Life-Changing Science of Spontaneous Healing" on how many investigated patients with incurable diseases like pancreatic cancer are healed through key changes in consciousness and life habits. Watch Dr. Rediger's brief lecture on the state of such research and his own research discoveries:

jeffrey rediger youtube ted - Bing video

Of course, what modern medicine designates as spontaneous healing overlaps with what Christians call faith healing. So it is useful to invoke St. Augustine's standard early Christian understanding of "miracle: "Miracles are not contrary to Nature, but only contrary to our understanding of Nature." With that in mind, this thread will also explore the question of whether "miracles" are divinely intended as normative Christian experience.
 
Last edited:

Berserk

Well-Known Member
Apr 13, 2019
878
670
93
76
Colville
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The most articulate spokesman for evolutionary theory since the late Stephen J. Gould is Brown U. professor Kenneth Miller. Dr. Miller has authored widely used high school and college biology text books with chapters on evolution and is the most respected spokesman for court cases on the Intelligent Design vs. Evolution debate about public education. His expertise on evolutionary theory led to personal friendships with both Stephen J. Gould and famous atheist Richard Dawkins. His many online videos provide the most effective way to challenge anti-evolution fundamentalists. But Miller is also a devout Catholic and loves to draw attention to papal support for evolution and the role of Augustinian thought in creating the science of genetics. He loves to challenge audiences of scientists with this question: "What do you get if you apply St. Augustine's approach to scientific research? You get genetics, as pioneered by Augustinian monk, Gregor Mendel." Listen to the way Dr. Miller reconciles faith in the Christian God with evolutionary theory in this brilliantly clear lecture that nicely complements the purpose of this thread:

kenneth miller reconciling creationism and evolution youtube - Bing video

bing_p_rr_teal_min.ico
www.bing.com

Miller effectively exposes the implication of Dawkins' atheistic model of evolution that atheists have no way to rationally justify either morality and ethics or meaning and purpose in a universe without God. The YouTube video is cut off at the point where he links St. Augustine's Christian philosophy of science with the Augustinian monk Greg Mendel's pioneering of the science of genetics.
 

Willie T

Heaven Sent
Staff member
Sep 14, 2017
5,869
7,426
113
St. Petersburg Florida
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Well, Jesus performed 34 (recorded) miracles during his ministry. That averages about one a month.
 
Last edited:

Windmillcharge

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2017
2,934
1,823
113
68
London
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
whether "miracles" are divinely intended as normative Christian experience.

Whether science understands or can 'explain' a miracle isn't relevent.

The question of whether miracles are a normal part of the Christian life is one that the Bible answers.

Miracles were described as ' signs'. There purpose was to draw onlookers attention not to the person doing it, but to the source, that is to God.
Look at john ch 9 and the account of the man born blind. See how his healing was investigated, how preconceived ideas blinded the authorities to the reality of what had happened.

The real miracle is Sen in the lives of Christians going about their lives with no miraculous acts, just trusting in God.
Why should someone do that, unless they know what is true.
 

marks

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2018
33,156
21,420
113
SoCal USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Well, Jesus performed 34 miracles during his ministry. That averages about one a month.
Hi Willie,

Doesn't it say that many places Jesus went, the multitude brought all the sick and demon possessed, and He healed them all? I'm thinking Jesus did 1000's of miracles.

Much love!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Willie T

Enoch111

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2018
17,688
15,996
113
Alberta
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Well, Jesus performed 34 (recorded) miracles during his ministry. That averages about one a month.
Since some of the recorded instances included HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, that is not correct. We can only say that Jesus performed COUNTLESS miracles on earth, since the apostle John tells us that not everything is recorded.

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pathfinder7