Do you believe in miracles?

[Southtown]

if that were true there'd be no gambling. :)

Well, touché. I was just saying that our outlooks can often influence what happens to us in life. I guess it's untrue to say that people can't find hope in chance.

[lemit]

When I read the title of the poll, I was offended. It took me a long time to calm down enough to vote an obvious "no."

 

Then I read Pamela's quoted definitions. They described what I think the word "miracle" should mean, something we do not understand or did not expect, as opposed to the definitions I expected, that a miracle occurs somewhere outside the reach of science. The miracle occurs in our psyche, not somewhere in a world as malleable as any surrealist painting. Miracles don't happen; we experience them. The laws of nature do not take a break to allow us to have an easier life; it just looks that way to us, the way hills look steeper when you're going down than when you're going up and stars seem to move because your head is moving. (Have I made my point?)

 

It's nice to know the battle I constantly prepare myself for is not against quite as much institutional complicity as I thought; that uphill fight isn't as tough as I expected--but I'm not going to look back.

 

--lemit

[REASON]

I my experience, the term "miracle" is not used to describe just any unexplained or unusual phenomena or occurrance. It is only used to describe an unexplained or unusual occurrance that has a positive or happy outcome.

 

I'll use Pamela's example above:

 

Pamela discovers that her medical bills are mysteriously paid off :evil: = miracle

Pamela discovers that her medical bills are mysteriously increasing = mistake

 

No one refers to an unexplained tragedy or disaster as a miracle. Miracles are associated with feelings of joy arising out of unexplained events that people assign to the glorious power of god. It is a way in which they reinforce their belief in the supernatural.

 

Of course, I don't believe in miracles and voted no. I live in a world of cause and effect and believe there is an explanation for everything, even if we are yet incapable of understanding the reasons.

 

Thus the value of scientific inquiry.

[pamela]

Pamela discovers that her medical bills are mysteriously increasing = mistake

its a miracle i didnt pass out after opening those bills;)

[REASON]

its a miracle i didnt pass out after opening those bills;)

 

That's right - because having passed out after opening them wouldn't qualify as a miracle.

[Moontanman]

I've been giving this poll some additional thought, the whole idea of a miracle is a lot like beauty, it all in the eye of the observer. Many people think a sunrise is a miracle. i have to admit that sunrise is wonderful but to me it's not a miracle. However I would never try to argue with someone who thought it was miraculous. it's all in the mind of the person experiencing the event.

[REASON]

I've been giving this poll some additional thought, the whole idea of a miracle is a lot like beauty, it all in the eye of the observer.....

 

.....it's all in the mind of the person experiencing the event.

 

Yes sir, I agree. Miracles are all in one's mind.

[pamela]

Yes sir, I agree. Miracles are all in one's mind.

ahh...the miraculous wonder of entertaining the sweetest of concepts when reason enters the mind;)