(October 14, 2013 at 2:16 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: I'd say that the vast majority of "miracles" are either deliberate cons or people misinterpreting ordinary events. An example of the first would be "crying" religious statues where the "tears" are found to be olive oil (alternatively "bleeding" statues with a mixture of olive oil and red food coloring), and an example of the second would be someone seeing Jesus on toast or Mary in a water stain.
Actually - I would think that the vast majority of "miracles" are things that are astounding - something a person has never seen before - or would think could happen. So - curing cancer was once considered a miracle - for instance. Landing on the moon was a miracle.
The problem is that ordinary events are Exaggerated into miracles - over time - as stories are told and retold. THE exaggerations get bigger and bigger - until they becomes a religion. ANd then another group of people have to add to their religion to trump yours - so the idea of virgin birth was NOT new in xtianity for instance.
And yes - lies for your religion was considered to be OKAY for a very long time. THe more people overcome the better.
And then the man in the wheelchair stood up --- a miracle? - Nah - he just had two broken legs.!
