Miracles and spirituality are often dismissed as "hocus-pocus" superstition. Is this dismissal legitimate? This article says no.
There is an underlying assumption on the part of many atheists and agnostics that, since God hasn’t revealed Himself to them, God therefore does not exist. They’ll express this in many ways, and accept it as a valid argument.
They will do this – and then turn around and deny the validity of a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, or other religious adherent citing personal experience as a testament to his/her own faith. This is a double standard, and critics of religion should not be allowed to get away with it.
Still, it is valid to ask that one’s religion – particularly if it’s being held up as supremely authoritative – pass some level of external testing. If the fundamental truth claims of one’s religion are logically unsound or scientifically impossible, it is time to reassess where one stands in relation to their religious faith.
Has Science Disproved the Supernatural?
The reality of the supernatural depends logically on the premise that the universe contains, is supervised by, or is itself a dynamic, spiritual force of some kind. In other words, supernaturalism depends on a theistic (or deistic), polytheistic, or pantheistic reality.
All three belief systems can explain the presence of the supernatural in our universe today. However, polytheism is embraced by only a few of the world’s religions and is largely rejected by most scholars today. Pantheism is more commonly embraced, but depends on an eternal universe – something modern science has largely rejected.
The prevailing view is theism – belief in a supernatural Creator. British theologian John Polkinghorne sums up theism as a “fundamental belief in…a Mind and Purpose behind the history of the universe.”
Many atheists argue that science has created as many problems for monotheism as it has for polytheism and pantheism. This is not the case, however, since science – even naturalistic science (a method of scientific inquiry which presupposes atheism as an operative) – relies on direct observation and/or reproducibility. As such, science can neither prove nor disprove God or the supernatural.
What About History?
Christian apologist Josh McDowell writes: “The study of history is [often] incorporated with the ideas that there is no God, miracles are not possible, we live in a closed system, and there is no supernatural.”
What McDowell says of history is certainly the case with science, which is completely predicated on naturalistic thinking. This naturalistic thinking, however, undermines the quest for truth. It rules out the possibility of miracles and the supernatural before critical inquiry even begins.
For example, if someone approaches the resurrection of Jesus with a naturalistic presumption that such an event is impossible, then one can guess pretty safely as to the outcome of that person’s investigation.
Somehow, a fair-minded investigator has to explain the claimed resurrection appearances (according to Paul, there were over 500), the empty tomb, and the birth of Christianity (a movement that held the resurrection as a central tenet). The most fair and reasonable way to approach this is to examine the historical record and objectively determine the most plausible explanation.
A Logical Conclusion
The best way to address the issue of miracles is through logic. To do this, one must clarify what is meant by God, miracles, and the supernatural.
Philosopher David Hume defined miracles as violations of the laws of nature. This definition, however, is self-serving. It begins with an assumption that natural law has been violated – that miracles, in fact, represent a rejection of science.
Modern philosopher and Christian apologist William Lane Craig provides a more balanced definition. According to Craig, a miracle “is an event which is not producible by the natural causes that are operative at the time and place that the event occurs.” This definition puts miracles outside of science, but not necessarily contrary to science.
A miracle then is not possible based on natural events or forces. Picture a person who has to get from Los Angeles to Washington, DC in one hour and all he has is a car. It won’t happen. It’s impossible. However, if you introduce Star Trek transporter technology into our hypothetical scenario…then you have a different situation altogether.
Naturally (no pun intended), Star Trek is fictional. The point, however, is that the supernatural represents the introduction of an outside, external element into the equation. Absent such an element, miracles are impossible. With such an element, miracles are very possible.
If God exists, then He is the ultimate, external, supernatural element. If God exists, miracles are possible.
