Miracles and the Modern Mind: A Defense of Biblical Miracles by Norman L. Geisler

Author:Norman L. Geisler
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Christian
ISBN: 9781592447329
Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub
Published: 1982-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

2. Everything in our experience (the world to us) must be determined by practical reason.

3. Practical reason operates according to universal laws.

4. But what occurs daily is not a miracle; it occurs according to natural laws.

5. And what occurs seldom is not determined by any law.

6. But everything must be determined by practical reason that operates on universal laws (2 and 3).

7. Therefore, it is rationally necessary to conclude that miracles never occur.

In support of the crucial third premise, Kant notes that “In the affairs of life, therefore, it is impossible for us to count on miracles or to take them into consideration at all in our use of reason (and reason must be used in every incident of life)” (Ibid., 82). In short, miracles are theoretically possible but practically impossible. That is to say, we must live as if they never occur. If we live otherwise, then we overthrow the whole dictates of practical reason and the moral law, which is the essence of true religion. Therefore, admitting miracles occur and living in their light is not only unnecessary to religion, it is actually harmful to it. So, even if there are supernatural acts, we must live (and think) as if there are none. In short, even if God exists we should live like naturalists!

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