Abstract

RADICAL THEOLOGIANS RIGHTLY SEE THAT THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS NOT AN EMPIRICAL THESIS, BUT THEIR RESULTANT REINTERPRETATION OF MIRACLES IS UNRECOGNIZABLE TO ORTHODOX THEOLOGY. IS THIS A SYMPTOM OF A MORE PROFOUND PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFICULTY? JOHN WISDOM HAS SHOWN THAT QUESTIONS OF FACT MAY NOT NEED FURTHER EMPIRICAL ENQUIRY BUT STILL NEED SOLUTION AND STILL BE ABLE TO BE RATIONALLY PURSUED. IS THEN THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM RADICAL THEORIES OF THE MIRACULOUS THAT MIRACLES CAN BE EVIDENCE IN PATTERNS? I ARGUE NOT EVEN THIS IS POSSIBLE. FAITH, RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR, IS REQUIRED ALSO TO SEE A MIRACLE IN A PATTERN OR TO SEE NONE. THE BELIEVER AND NON-BELIEVER ARE PLAYING CHECKERS WITH THEIR PIECES ON DIFFERENT COLORED SQUARES