The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 2
Let’s start with Swinburne’s description of Aquinas’ concept of a ‘miracle’: Aquinas wrote that a ‘miracle’ in a wide sense is any event brought about by a rational agent in virtue of powers greater than normal human powers; and so many events brought about by demons or angels would count as miracles. But in a … The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 2
Militant atheism, militant Christianity
In South Carolina, where I live, the Confederate flag is prominently displayed on the grounds of the State Capitol. Many of us want it moved to a museum that contains artifacts of the Civil War (also referred to as “The War of Northern Aggression”). That’s why I’m somewhat conflicted about whether the cross-shaped steel beam … Militant atheism, militant Christianity
The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 1
I just finished reading Richard Swinburne’s chapter “Arguments from History and Miracles”, Chapter 12 in The Existence of God (2nd ed., 2004), about the same time Taner Edis did his post “Natural miracles?” (https://secularfrontier.infidels.org/2011/07/natural-miracles/).So, this seems like a good time to revisit the topic of ‘miracles’.Back in 2008, I did a series of posts on … The Meaning of ‘miracle’ – Part 1