Miracles have been around for centuries, but nowadays, many people dismiss them as things we make up or tricks of the mind. Yet, these extraordinary events still raise important questions. How can we fit miracles into a world where science explains so much? Are they just rare exceptions in our normal lives, or could they be happening all around us, like the miracle of childbirth?
In his book Miracles, C.S. Lewis takes us on a journey to explore these extraordinary events that often get overlooked or misunderstood today.
In our modern world, where science is king, Lewis wonders how we should think about our miracles. Are they just unusual events in our everyday world, or should we broaden our definition to include anything good that happens? Lewis believes that miracles are powerful signs of God's involvement in our lives, and he uses the Bible and the life of Jesus to back up his ideas.
But before we dive into miracles, we need to understand two big beliefs about them: naturalism and supernaturalism. It's crucial to ask the right questions about miracles because you can't explain them just by talking about personal experiences or looking at history. Miracles make us think deeply about the bigger philosophical questions. At the heart of a miracle is a supernatural force doing something extraordinary in our natural world. If everything is just part of nature, then miracles can't exist. Naturalists think that nature is all there is, and they don't limit reality to what we can see or measure. For them, nature is always changing within the boundaries of space and time.
Supernaturalists, on the other hand, believe in something beyond nature, with God as the foundation for everything. This isn't just about believing in God or not; naturalism can accept a god that's part of nature, while supernaturalism sees God as separate from nature. Supernaturalists see nature as just one part of a bigger picture and think that there might be more than one "nature." But for naturalists, miracles are impossible because they don't see anything beyond nature.
But here's the thing: even naturalism itself is a belief that can't be reduced to science. It believes that everything has a cause that came before it. However, some scientific discoveries have shown that things at the smallest level can be unpredictable, similar to flipping a coin. This unpredictability might be a tiny opening for something beyond our natural world, like the supernatural.
The real challenge for naturalism is explaining human thoughts and beliefs. Naturalists say that everything we think and believe is just a result of neurons firing in our brains. But if that's true, then we have no reason to trust any of our thoughts, including the belief in materialism itself. Supernaturalists argue that reason comes from something beyond nature and that our thoughts aren't just determined by our biology.
Supernaturalists see divine reason as the source of our thoughts and morality. This means that there's a deeper reality beyond our natural world that gives meaning to everything. Naturalism doesn't leave room for this deeper meaning.
Some people argue that ancient folks believed in miracles because they didn't understand how nature worked. They thought the world was flat, for instance. But that's not entirely true. Many ancient people understood natural laws and could tell when something unusual happened. Even back then, they knew when things didn't fit the usual pattern. So, it's not accurate to say that miracles were just born out of ignorance.
The laws of nature, far from stopping miracles, can actually show us that they're possible. There are three ideas about these laws: they're just facts, they're like averages, or they're necessary truths about how things work. Only the third idea can accommodate miracles because it sees the laws of nature as an essential part of reality. When God performs a miracle, He doesn't erase the laws of nature but introduces something new into the world.
The most crucial miracle of all is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It's like the missing piece of a puzzle that helps us see the whole picture. It doesn't just apply to us humans but also the entire universe. The incarnation isn't about escaping this world for heaven; it's about a new creation. It's about conquering death, which was once the worst thing but is now transformed into something better.
Miracles fall into two categories: those of the old creation and those of the new creation. The old creation miracles amplify what God is already doing but in a more intense way. Imagine taking a shortcut in a process that God is already overseeing. New creation miracles, on the other hand, point to a future where everything works differently. The resurrection of Jesus is a great example
What I have learned from reading this book is that miracles are still a hot topic in today's world. They challenge the dominant belief in naturalism and encourages us to consider a supernatural realm. Understanding how the natural and supernatural connect is key to making sense of miracles. The incarnation of Jesus Christ, as the central miracle, sheds light on the purpose and importance of all miracles, showing us the possibility of a new creation. Miracles aren't just disruptions of the natural order; they're powerful signs of divine action in our world, pointing to a reality beyond our senses.
So, if you ever hear people questioning miracles or dismissing them, remember that they're not just strange events. They're part of a bigger story, where the supernatural meets the natural, and everything gains deeper meaning. C.S. Lewis explored these ideas way back in 1947, but his thoughts on miracles are still relevant today, challenging us to think about faith, reason, and the divine in a whole new light.