Miracles are about faith, not fact Essay Example

Miracles are about faith, not fact Essay Before discussion on the issue of miracles can begin, we must look at the nature of the statement and what it means. Miracles have baffled philosophers and ordinary people alike for years. The words are about faith brings about the question as to whether faith is necessary to experience a miracle or if is possible to experience a miracle and then have faith. This issue will be explored in more depth later. If miracles are not about fact, then this suggests that they are the opposite-fiction. There is much speculation on whether miracles can occur, mostly explored by Hume, but does evidence matter to a believer? The term faith indicates that it is a commitment which acknowledges that it involves risk. Christians are taught Do not put the Lord your God to the test1, therefore they should not need evidence of Gods work. This can be described as blind faith.A problem with discussing miracles is that it is difficult to find a single explanation to adequately fit the word. Many definitions have been offered. The Christian definition is A marvel, an extraordinary event which seems to go against what is known of the laws of nature 2. Of course, this event, from a Christian perspective, is brought about by God. Christians believe all miracles, whether it be the ones in the Bible or the more scarce modern day miracles are the work of their single God. Coincidence does not play an extensive part in it. This view is opposed by Richard Dawkins.He believes a miracle is a tremendous stroke of luck. He described them in more depth in his book3. It is easier to see some modern day miracles as coincidence than those in the Bible because they are less dramatic and in most cases experienced by fewer people. A helpful definition is offered by Hume: A transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the deity or by interposition of some visible agent4. As people cannot agree on a definition, it is difficult to discuss miracles. What one person sees as miraculous may not be so to another.Most definitions agree that a miracle goes against the laws of nature, so it is necessary to explore this point. Hume believes that our experience of the world has shown the laws of nature to be very reliable. For example, if you drop a ball from a height, it will always without fail fall to the ground. Hume describes similar examples in his book5. Therefore is critical of miracles. He thought it was more probable that the miracle is false that the laws of nature unreliable. R.G.Collingwood said that nature depends on something else6. As it is not self sufficient, the thing that it depends on (e.g. God) has the power to change it, hence the occurrence of miracles. C.S.Lewis in his book Miracles puts forward a very interesting point. He says that the laws of nature are only those we can perceive with our five senses. There may be laws beyond our senses leaving us unable to understand their occurrence. Our experience of nature simply shows us what regularly happens in nature, not how it can be suspended7. Scientific laws are descriptive so the laws of nature cannot dictate what will happen, just what has happened in the past.It does not matter to the believer that the reliable laws of nature have been broken. They are more concerned with why God needs to interfere. If Gods creation was perfect then He should not need to change it in any way. Only an incompetent workman will produce work that needs to be interfered with. If miracles are about faith, then why does God need to prove himself? Maurice Wiles claims that an interventionist God whom intervenes by bringing about a few bizarre miracles is not worthy of worship8. He thought that God has an arbitrary will as he helps some and not others. If God can intervene to make Jesus do something as un-useful as walk on water, why does he not stop evil?Augustines theodicy helps solve this in that God created humans with free will so it is their fault evil occurs. However, we cannot know all the factors and circumstances of Gods will, so what seems arbitrary to us may seem right to God. If God were timeless and transcendent, then he would be unable to work in the physical world. This suggests that miracles are not factual, as it is unlikely that such a divine being can perform miracles. It is necessary for someone to have faith to believe in such a phenomenon. Jesus did not do miracles to order, he demanded faith, and then miracles follow9. This suggests that you need to have faith before you can experience a miracle.In contradiction to the above point, there have been stories of atheists who experience miracles and become devoted to the religion as a result of the miracle. This does not support the quote from Jesus. Ian McCormack was a man of no faith until he had a near death experience after being stung by five box jellyfish. He claimed to have seen and have spoken to God, he then woke up in a mortuary after being claimed dead. The experience changed his life, as he became a de voted followed of Christ taking his story around Europe. Looking at this evidence, miracles cannot rely totally on faith, however they can lead to it. Here, miracles are not about faith because Ian McCormack had no faith before his experience. However, if they are about fact, then why does God not perform miracles for everyone? In a different section of the Bible, Jesus does say, Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonder, you will never believe10. This could mean that it is possible to believe after the experience of a miracle, which would explain conversions. It could also be a criticism of the people Jesus is talking to. He thinks that people should not rely on evidence for their faith. Those who base their faith on miracles have misunderstood the nature of Christ and the signs. The miracles come as a result of faith. The extract can be read either way. Miracles do not just happen in Christianity. They occur in all religions, each one claiming that they are due to the divi ne intervention of their God. Surely not all the possible Gods exist and have the power to intervene in the world. So, if the truth of miracle stories is the basis of all religions then they all have equal claims to the truth. It is well known that all religions are not in agreement, therefore their claims of miracles are in a way cancelled out. Hume said that this point discredits miracles.

Problem Identification And Agenda Setting Example

Problem Identification And Agenda Setting Example Problem Identification And Agenda Setting – Coursework Example The First Stages in Agenda Formulation Affiliations The First Stages in Agenda Formulation Problem identification entails the expression of dissatisfaction with the prevailing status quo. For example, in the education system people can express their dissatisfaction with the inadequate facilities in the United States schools that support the marginalized. Schools are mandated to provide all the students with quality education regardless of their physical and psychological disabilities (DeMatthews, 2014). Students who are physically disabled and who are not native English speakers face difficulties coping with the other students in the class. Federal policy guidelines are silent regarding the issue of disproportionate representation of the special needs children in the schools. The problem results in emotionally affected students who end up living miserable lives for lack of proper education. In agenda setting, the definition of underlying alternatives is essential to the policy proce ss and in shaping the desired outcome. Before the issue is fully adopted and formulated, the alternative approaches are outlined so that the best option can be implemented (LAITS). To determine what issue advances into the agenda policy, the options that can address the plight of the disabled in schools are analyzed. For example, should the federal government provide separate facilities, increase the resources in current facilities, or provide extensional support to the affected children. Many problems exist in the contemporary US, but few of them make it to the public policy agenda. In the United States, a problem has to be identified as a salient issue to move onto the policy agenda. In most instances, the power of the people can move problems in the society further to be adopted as policy agendas. In addition to the influence and the power of the people, there are issues that move immediately to the policy agenda following significant events that act as the triggers (Boundless, 2014). Parents of the affected children with the support of the rights groups also contribute significantly to identifying the said problems. Boundless (2014). â€Å"Issue Identification and Agenda Building.† Boundless Political Science. Boundless. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/political-science/textbooks/boundless-political-science-textbook/domestic-policy-15/the-policy-making-process-95/issue-identification-and-agenda-building-513-7629/DeMatthews, David, Edwards, D. Brent, and Nelson, Timothy (2014). "Identiï ¬ cation Problems: US Special Education Eligibility for English Language Learners." Elsevier Ltd. International Journal of Educational Research 68: 27-34. Elsevier Ltd. LAITS. The Public Policy Process. Retrieved from laits.utexas.edu/gov310/PEP/policy/

The Undue Weight of Truth on Wikipedia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Undue Weight of Truth on Wikipedia - Essay Example In this context, Wikipedia identifies the avoidance of undue weight by, not recognizing minority views as representing widely held viewpoint. This is guided by the view that, minority held views give rise to undue weight, in relation to the truth. Wikipedia requires the minority views to rely on sources from majority viewpoints, and further, avoid reflecting on content sourced from a minority point of view. Wikipedia further suggest that, minority views serve to represent articles focusing on the views of the minority. The intention by Wikipedia in this sense involves presenting competing viewpoints in relation to support from sources considered as reliable (Messer-Kruse). Replacing the truth by adopting a policy of neutrality, may result in the exclusion of true information in the main space. Such is the case that affects recognized experts like Timothy Messer-Kruse, concerning the article â€Å"Haymarket affair†. Timothy complained about his contributions concerning the topi c, being watered down or scrapped off. Wikipedia focuses on epistemological standards considered radically different compared to other standards. Such standards are unfounded because Wikipedia depends on a Web oriented community. This impacts on scholars whose main aim involves a focus on traditional notions in regard to accuracy and the truth. Objective truth does not form an important aspect of the Wikipedia’s policies concerning determining the truth. Wikipedia recognizes the truth based on the frequency of a viewpoint on other publications. In this sense, as long as a new viewpoint is supported by other publication that exists online, that is enough process for Wikipedia to affirm due weight on a new view point(Messer-Kruse). Contrary to Wikipedia’s assertion of neutrality, an ideal process, entails a fair representation of all views, whether minority or majority point of view. Presenting a subject that does not imply biases, but entails focusing attention on how v iews, arguments and wordings are mentioned. Messer-Kruse took over a decade researching on the 1886 â€Å"Haymaker affair†, but received approval from a minority group of scholars. Wikipedia on its part relied on secondary publications to inform on the same topic. The idea of including the views of others concerning a scholarly article may compromise the originality of the information. This results from views, presented in a different perspective, but relating to the same topic. As noticed by Timothy while editing a Wikipedia article, the consideration of numerous views results in misleading assertions. The process of due weight in relation to truth denies the minority a chance to reflect their views in regard to an issue. Timothy conducted further research concerning evidence provided and added this to Wikipedia’s editing log. However, because of maintaining the policy of neutrality, Timothy’s assertions were not added due to lack of reliable sources as require d by the policy of neutrality. The reliance on prominent sources denies scholars the chance to document on concrete views and contributes to relevant information to the readers. Further, the existence of a policy that denies minority views an equal opportunity to provide relevant information to readers may lead to misinformation. In the same light, majority view impact on negatively on research conducted by the minority views since, the minority views are documented on a limited number of scholarly materials. As noted by Timothy, the policy related to undue weight, creates a problem in terms of denying recognition for published articles by minority views. This creates a situation where, biased documentation of scholarly materials do not recognize the views from both sides of the spectrum. For