Science and God

Asimov once wrote an essay correlating the visits to the inner solar system of Halley's Comet with world events. IN every case something major was happening somewhere in the world. He then says:

"Looks like there may be something to astrology, doesn't it?
"It doesn't."

He explains there are so many major events in history, that it would be really unlikely for the comet to appear when nothing major is going on somewhere, especially if you add scientific discoveries and major technological developments.

Given a large human population, like, for example, the 6-7+ billions currently living on, let us say, Earth, it would be extremely unlikely if there wasn't a bunch of unexplained cases of people recovering from illness or disease, which might seem "miracles" to the unsophisticated mind.

Quote: Nareed

Asimov once wrote an essay correlating the visits to the inner solar system of Halley's Comet with world events. IN every case something major was happening somewhere in the world. He then says:

"Looks like there may be something to astrology, doesn't it?
"It doesn't."

He explains there are so many major events in history, that it would be really unlikely for the comet to appear when nothing major is going on somewhere, especially if you add scientific discoveries and major technological developments.

Given a large human population, like, for example, the 6-7+ billions currently living on, let us say, Earth, it would be extremely unlikely if there wasn't a bunch of unexplained cases of people recovering from illness or disease, which might seem "miracles" to the unsophisticated mind.

It's kind of weird that you seem to be trying to prove your argument using too very different proofs. The Halley Comet example is pretty clear and simple to understand. Especially if something only happens every once and a while it can be easy to equate its arrival with something and extrapolate a cause and effect. Maybe realizing that this example doesn't really apply to the posted article because these medically examined miracles happen quite often and that they are tested strictly to disprove just chance or random occurrence, you then offer a very different evidence.

You then say that the opposite of the Halley Comet example and posit that because there is so many people then it would be expected that there are many "miracles" just due to random chance. This isn't a much stronger argument and is more of a statement of fact. It is rather to use your words unsophisticated. A sophisticated mind might want to examine reason for certain of these miracles even considering the supernatural intercession of the saints when there is so much evidence gathered ruling out almost any other possibility.

Quote: FrGamble

It's kind of weird that you seem to be trying to prove your argument using too very different proofs.

It seems kind of weird someone who extols logic and reason so often, doesn't seem to have more than a passing acquaintance with them.

1) Many events. A few visits by Halley's Comet.

2) Many people with illnesses. A few unexplained "cures."

The problem is there are not just a few unexplained medical miracles. To compare the number to the visits of Halley's Comet is not even close.

Unexplained means unexplained, not god did it.

Quote:

Out of thousands of alleged cures at Lourdes, the Catholic Church accepts only a few dozen as meeting its criteria for miracles.

https://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/PSEUDOSC/WhyNoMiracles.HTM

Does the church offer an explanation for these rejected miracles? If not, how can they be so sure god didn't do it?

Quote: FrGamble

The problem is there are not just a few unexplained medical miracles.

What do you mean by "few"? I'm talking about millions of cases.

Quote: FrGamble

The problem is there are not just a few unexplained medical miracles..

No, the problem is there are no miracles
and people who believe there are. They
live in a superstitious twilight world that
keeps the light of truth and science
from getting to them. The poor sots..

Quote: Nareed

What do you mean by "few"? I'm talking about millions of cases.

Then you can see how your analogy to Halley's Comet breaks down.

Quote: Evenbob

No, the problem is there are no miracles
and people who believe there are. They
live in a superstitious twilight world that
keeps the light of truth and science
from getting to them. The poor sots..

Who I really feel bad for are those who believe that the light and truth of science can't co-exist with the reality of the supernatural.

Quote: FrGamble

Then you can see how your analogy to Halley's Comet breaks down.

Do you know the difference between analogous and identical?

Do you know how many miraculous cures are due to misdiagnosis? And how many claimed cures are for people who weren't even sick to begin with?

But I'm more interested in this: On one hand, you claim your gods are not Santa Claus or genies of the lamp who grant wishes, on the other you claim any unexplained improvement in anyone's medical condition is a miracle of the imaginary trio.

Which is it?