I T ' S A M I R A C L E ! ! ! !

[NotReady]

Suppose this headline tomorrow with the following story:

[ QUOTE ]

Overnight every single human being on the planet who had lost an appendage, finger, toe, leg, arm, whatever, awoke to discover that all had been fully restored and are completely functional. Scientists and theologians alike are dumbfounded.


[/ QUOTE ]

Would this do any more for people like DS than convince them that the nerdy kid in Dimension #197a had been playing with his new toy, call in a Nimbus 2000 dimensionalizer and universator? He found the button that regrows human legs, etc. I don't see why it would even slow down Dawkins and Co. - they would just have to readjust their rhetoric.

[Mickey Brausch]

[ QUOTE ]
Suppose this headline [appears] tomorrow with the following story:

[ QUOTE ]

Overnight every single human being on the planet who had lost an appendage, finger, toe, leg, arm, whatever, awoke to discover that all had been fully restored and are completely functional. Scientists and theologians alike are dumbfounded.


[/ QUOTE ]

Would this do any more for people like DS than convince them that the nerdy kid in Dimension #197a had been playing with his new toy, call in a Nimbus 2000 dimensionalizer and universator? He found the button that regrows human legs, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]Your example of an atheism-refuting miracle is appropriate. I, for one, would be convinced, that there is someone/something behind the curtain, after all.

Since we have zero precedent or allegations about the nerdy kid version (besides jokes and speculations), whilst we do have allegations and claims stubbornly supported and handed down to us by our ancestors, i.e. the proper God versions, it would be more likely that a proper God is at work rather than the nerdy kid.

Now, why would the miracle have to be the work of the Christian God and not some other, out-of-fashion deity, such as Zoroastre ?

Mickey Brausch

[NotReady]

[ QUOTE ]

Now, why would the miracle have to be the work of the Christian God and not some other, out-of-fashion deity, such as Zoroastre ?


[/ QUOTE ]

Correct. You take Zoroastre, others go for Jupiter and DS sticks with the kid. Dawkins probably says we'll find the natural cause in a generation or two.

Now what?

[Lestat]

I think it's a very valid question...

Suppose this would be enough to convince it was the work of God (as I think it would), and not a nerdy 6th dimensional kid. Now what should cause me to believe this was the work of the Christian God and not Allah?

It's a serious question. So while I (and many others), would believe in God now, how would you council us at knowing which one? And can I turn your question on you?...

Suppose the name Mohamed were inscribed on every regrown limb. Would this now cause you to change your faith? Or would you just say it was a trick of the devil?

[NotReady]

[ QUOTE ]

Suppose the name Mohamed were inscribed on every regrown limb. Would this now cause you to change your faith? Or would you just say it was a trick of the devil?


[/ QUOTE ]

A fair question. Biblical miracles always occurred accompanied by God's Word (I can't think of any exceptions). So if something like I described occurred with no message I would have no explanation for it.

And that's part of the reason for my OP. Atheists keep asking for a miracle, DS says even proof of a real magic event will do. But the examples in the Bible and the posts here indicate that miracles don't do what people think they do. I believe that anyone who is convinced by a miracle would have been convinced anyway.

[Magic_Man]

[ QUOTE ]
Atheists keep asking for a miracle, DS says even proof of a real magic event will do. But the examples in the Bible and the posts here indicate that miracles don't do what people think they do. I believe that anyone who is convinced by a miracle would have been convinced anyway.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are we reading the same thread? Almost all the non-believers here have specifically said they would probably believe in a God if this happened. Thus, miracles do indeed do what people think they do.

[chezlaw]

[ QUOTE ]
Since we have zero precedent or allegations about the nerdy kid version (besides jokes and speculations), whilst we do have allegations and claims stubbornly supported and handed down to us by our ancestors, i.e. the proper God versions, it would be more likely that a proper God is at work rather than the nerdy kid.

[/ QUOTE ]
Nah, nothing could be clearer evidence of the brain in vat theory. Don't have to grow all those pesky limbs or a simulation, just change the inputs to the brain.

or its a kid, or its god, or its ... whatever takes your fancy.

or maybe not.

chez

[hellbender]

What do you want us to say? This event would eliminate metaphysical naturalism from the sane population. Beyond that, what conclusions could possibly be drawn?

If only the Zoroastrians had been regenerated, things would be quite different.

[David Sklansky]

Just to be clear, I don't think the kid is more likely than God. I think all of the possible explanations combined is more likely than one very specific definition of God.

[KreellKeiser]

[ QUOTE ]
Suppose this headline tomorrow with the following story:

[ QUOTE ]

Overnight every single human being on the planet who had lost an appendage, finger, toe, leg, arm, whatever, awoke to discover that all had been fully restored and are completely functional. Scientists and theologians alike are dumbfounded.


[/ QUOTE ]

Would this do any more for people like DS than convince them that the nerdy kid in Dimension #197a had been playing with his new toy, call in a Nimbus 2000 dimensionalizer and universator? He found the button that regrows human legs, etc. I don't see why it would even slow down Dawkins and Co. - they would just have to readjust their rhetoric.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a pretty hardcore athiest. If this were to happen, I'd have to admit in some sort of higher power. Of course this event would prove nothing specific about that power, so any claims of one religion over another would still be ridiculous.