I’m writing a book on apologetics.
It’s a book that offers to lay people (and professionals) images and illustrations for use in everyday conversations. No special training required.
This current series of blog posts is taken from the book.
A publisher has a proposal from me in its que, at present.
A final image, then, in this series: Miracles are like a hole in one.
Atheists often invoke Enlightenment philosopher David Hume’s argument against miracles: that their probability is so low that they are virtually impossible.
Much more likely than the occurrence of actual miracles are false reports of miracles due to human error, wishful thinking or fabrication.
So let’s say that Joe is an ardent skeptic of God and of miracles, and his nine-year old daughter Ashley comes home after her very first round of golf and reports making an ace on a difficult 175 yard hole.
Ashley is sincere, earnest and joyful. She even praises God for her good fortune.
Lisa, the neighbor girl next store, corroborates the story.
What is Joe to believe?
You see, the trouble with the Humean dismissal of miracles is that if a real one came along, it would be missed.
Poor Joe misses a milestone moment of triumph with Ashley. He smiles and nods and encourages her like any good father would. But in his heart of hearts he does not believe her.
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| I’ve never had a hole in one. With my luck, my own daughter Kelli (pictured left) will get one first! |
