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Getting miracles in perspective...
Dear Friends,
Today in our lead commentary we are back on the subject of the problem posed by miracles. I think this is a good treatment of the subject by Dr Elmer even if he and I might have differences of opinion on the literalness of Jesus' interventions. What is your understanding of the meaning of the miracle stories in Sacred Scripture? Do you believe the test for sainthood ought to be the ability of the dead person to bring forth some miraculous cure in a person still living?
My own opinion, for what it is worth, is that this is a major area the institution needs to sort out. I think the situation can be likened to the process of children growing up. There would be few who think it stupid not to teach children about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy but there comes a point where they learn the truth or have to be told the truth. Principally through education the world has 'grown up' in the last few hundred years. Some are still stuck back in the literalness of miracles and get mighty upset if anybody should question their literalness. Most though have 'moved on' and are seeking a more sophisticated understanding of the significance of these stories in Scripture and our mythologies. How does an institution "advance the whole class" to the next level without upsetting those who still need to believe in Santa Claus, or "miracles'? We live in a far different world today to when the vast majority of the Catholic faithful were uneducated and almost entirely reliant on the knowledge of priests alone as to whether the story of Noah's Ark was literally true, whether God really did create the world in seven days, and the "mighty works" of Jesus' were received in a different way to the way they are received today.
<Link to Ian's commentary>
www.catholica.com.au/gc0/ie2/116_ie_130809.php |
