What would truly convince you there is a God?
Many people point to the miracles in the Bible as sure proof of God. Others tell of personal experiences that have once and for all convinced them (usually based around a warm, fuzzy feeling).
Common examples of miracles that I am sure you have probably heard of are:
* Uncommonly fast (even overnight) healing of broken bones.
* Crosses of light in church windows (visible when there is an external light source).
* Jesus turning water into wine.
* Survival in extreme situations.
* Visions of saints, the Virgin Mary etc.
* Jesus walking on water.
Now, only in the last 100 years have we been able to create lasers, jet engines, holograms, CAT scanners, mobile phones and televisions. A few centuries ago, this sort of technology would have been considered either a heavenly miracle, or the work of Satan.
Imagine what we will be able to do in 500 years, if we continue expanding our knowledge at the present rate. A civilisation a million years more advanced than us would certainly be able to accomplish things that would seem utterly miraculous (or magical) compared with our current level of technology.
Most of the miracles listed above, and probably many others you can think of, are limited by the laws of physics. Most of them could simply be accomplished by the crew of the Enterprise on Star Trek, which is obviously fictional but certainly still within the bounds of reason.
Now, I'm not suggesting that all so-called miracles are caused by playful aliens, just that they are certainly not absolute evidence of divine intervention by a being that is not constrained by any natural laws. It is quite reasonable to imagine an advanced technology that could be responsible for any given miracle, even raising the dead.
The above miracles would be a lot more impressive (although still not outside the laws of physics) if they weren't so limited. For example:
* Instant healing of massive physical injury, while under supervision of hospital staff.
* 30 foot crosses of fire above the church, with no source of fuel or ignition.
* Jesus turning water into petrol (not available in those days, and requires a lot of effort to produce).
* Survival in impossible conditions (being blown into tiny pieces).
* Visions of saints projected on all available media, over the entire planet at once.
* Jesus swimming under-water for ten miles.
It is difficult to envisage a "miracle" that could not easily be reproduced by a sufficiently advanced technology - something that could only possibly be performed by a truly omnipotent being. A suggestion I heard once was to alter the speed of light throughout the universe (but how could we measure it all over the universe?). The only miracle I can think of that could truly convince me that there is an omnipotent being would be for that being to grant me omnipotence.
What would convince you?
A.B.
Many people point to the miracles in the Bible as sure proof of God. Others tell of personal experiences that have once and for all convinced them (usually based around a warm, fuzzy feeling).
Common examples of miracles that I am sure you have probably heard of are:
* Uncommonly fast (even overnight) healing of broken bones.
* Crosses of light in church windows (visible when there is an external light source).
* Jesus turning water into wine.
* Survival in extreme situations.
* Visions of saints, the Virgin Mary etc.
* Jesus walking on water.
Now, only in the last 100 years have we been able to create lasers, jet engines, holograms, CAT scanners, mobile phones and televisions. A few centuries ago, this sort of technology would have been considered either a heavenly miracle, or the work of Satan.
Imagine what we will be able to do in 500 years, if we continue expanding our knowledge at the present rate. A civilisation a million years more advanced than us would certainly be able to accomplish things that would seem utterly miraculous (or magical) compared with our current level of technology.
Most of the miracles listed above, and probably many others you can think of, are limited by the laws of physics. Most of them could simply be accomplished by the crew of the Enterprise on Star Trek, which is obviously fictional but certainly still within the bounds of reason.
Now, I'm not suggesting that all so-called miracles are caused by playful aliens, just that they are certainly not absolute evidence of divine intervention by a being that is not constrained by any natural laws. It is quite reasonable to imagine an advanced technology that could be responsible for any given miracle, even raising the dead.
The above miracles would be a lot more impressive (although still not outside the laws of physics) if they weren't so limited. For example:
* Instant healing of massive physical injury, while under supervision of hospital staff.
* 30 foot crosses of fire above the church, with no source of fuel or ignition.
* Jesus turning water into petrol (not available in those days, and requires a lot of effort to produce).
* Survival in impossible conditions (being blown into tiny pieces).
* Visions of saints projected on all available media, over the entire planet at once.
* Jesus swimming under-water for ten miles.
It is difficult to envisage a "miracle" that could not easily be reproduced by a sufficiently advanced technology - something that could only possibly be performed by a truly omnipotent being. A suggestion I heard once was to alter the speed of light throughout the universe (but how could we measure it all over the universe?). The only miracle I can think of that could truly convince me that there is an omnipotent being would be for that being to grant me omnipotence.
What would convince you?
A.B.
