Is our faith founded solely on miracles and the supernatural acts?
drchris March 26th, 2007
Is our faith founded solely on miracles and the supernatural acts?
Barely the dust from the controversy of the DaVinci Code had settled, we have another, The Lost Tomb of Jesus, which attempts to cast doubts on the very foundation of our faith, the resurrection.
There is going to be many more such attempts trying to create doubts in what we believe regarding Jesus – his divity,his birth, his relationship with Mary Magdalene, his miracles, his crucifixion and even his resurrection upon which our faith is founded. There are many out there to prove wrong what has been believed to be the absolute truth over the centuries. The Church had taken great pains to preserve and safeguard these truths at all costs.
Modern man is so advanced in science and technology that he insists on evidence before he accepts anything as the truth, including those that are supernatural. He is not going to accept anything based just on faith and tradition. Modern scientific advancements may even succeed in proving certain of our established believes wrong. Man will not rest until he gets the truth and to me his inquisitive mind coupled with his intelligence, are the gifts of God. We know that the truth will finally prevail. If so are we prepared to accept the truth however bitter they may be?
Is our faith based solely on miracles and magic that is said to have occurred 2000 years ago when man had little or no understanding of science and nature? If these miracles and supernatural events are proven to be false by modern evidence-based techniques, is our faith still relevant?
Miracles and magical events can be proved wrong but not Christ’s teachings. These will stand the test of time. His two great commandments, love God and love you neighbors as yourself, are relevant throughout the ages and would never become obsolete. If we understand and practice these two great commandments, we need not be too worried that our faith will be proven wrong.
Why should the Church be so easily perturbed by these allegations that are merely external? Has it lost faith in the essential teachings of Jesus? Is our Church leading us in the direction as taught by Christ or is it being hijacked by some quarters for their vested advantage?
As an ordinary layman I do not have the resources to challenge the proponents of these allegations. I do not know for certain whether Jesus was divine, born to a virgin, married and had a son, worked miracles or even resurrected, but I know for sure that he came from God, committed no sin, his teachings were never flawed and ultimately he gave up his life as a symbol of self-sacrificing love for us. These actions of his are enough to find a secure place for him in my heart from where no amount of force would displace him. He continues to be the symbol of inspiration and guide in my daily living.
It is our misdirected focus from the real essence of the teachings of Christ that has resulted in a world that is plagued by materialism and immorality? Hate, selfishness and greed have become the way of life, replacing love, hope and charity which were the hallmarks of Christianity in the yesteryears.
Dr.Chris Anthony
Dr. Anthony,
You said:
Why not? Scripture and the teaching of the Church are very clear on these points. Is their testimony insufficient?
Why is it that you have certainty about these truths, but not the ones previously mentioned?
You perplex me, Dr. Anthony.
Pax Christi,
phatcatholic