Posted by Ezekiel 25:17 on March 13, 2001 at 23:57:21:
In Reply to: Daggone it!!! posted by Aslan on March 13, 2001 at 04:44:47:
Hey Aslan,
: Ezek, the one thing I would change about your questions, would be to split up the "Do you believe in God becuase of a miracle or an Evangelist?". Personally, I have a lot more tolerance for miracles, than I do evangelists.
: So perhaps the first part of the question could be # 4, the other could be #4a. What do you think?
I could split those questions. The point is, why do other people believe, not why do I think other people believe :) Answers need not fall into any of those categories.
In relation to miracles, and evangelists.
Can I refer you to David Hume's 'Essay on Miracles" :) This basically maintains that there can never be adequate historical evidence for such events.
In recent years, many TV evangelists have been exposed for the scam artists that they are. Yet new ones come out everyday. Makes you wonder about human gullibility. Oh well, spose hope springs eternal.
On the other hand, a 'miracle' can have such a wide array of definitions that it has become far more accepted. Some people believe it is a 'miracle' the sun rises every day. Whilst others require a more supernatural event. Do humans perform miracles, or does it become a miracle when you survive a horrendous accident?
I've yet to witness any genuine miracles in my lifetime. Sure, I've seen David Copperfield escape Alcatraz and hide the Statue of Liberty, but perhaps I've missed someone raising the dead lately, or turning water into wine.
Even, had I seen any of these miraculous events, in this world of technology and special effects, I would undertake further investigation to see if any other possible reason could exist.
However, it is not my job to pre-judge miracles, and if you find faith as a result of a miracle, then feel free to tick box 4(a) :)