1. Miracles
Evaluation

2. Wiles’ arguments
Maurice Wiles put forward three main arguments for not believing that miracles happen:
If miracles are a violation of the laws of nature, they have to occur infrequently to avoid the concept of laws of nature becoming meaningless.
The pattern of the occurrence of miracles appear strange.
The large number of evil events that are not prevented by God raises questions about God’s Goodness and Omnipotence.

3. Wiles’ arguments “The World as a whole is a single act of God”
This is similar to deism, but Wiles thinks of himself as a theist
Wiles argues that the absence of miracles does not go against Christianity
He argues that prayers still have a purpose because they are a way to feel connected to God
The miracles in the bible do not have to be rejected but should be understood as being symbolic
However, he argues that Jesus was not the son of God, and so his ideas would be rejected by most Christians

4. Criticisms of Wiles Handouts:
Fill in the grid using p.50 in your booklets and p.350 in your textbooks
If you finish this task, turn your handout over and make notes to help you plan your essay
20 minutes

5. Criticisms of Wiles Explain the criticism
Argue about whether the criticism is successful
Christian tradition
Human rationality
The Christian God
Ward’s criticisms

6. Homework – 1 week
'A belief in miracles leads to the concept of a God who favours some but not all of his creation.' Discuss [35]
Introduce the topic of miracles by briefly discussing definitions and examples
Focus on the first definition
Explain why Wiles believes that a God who only helps some people isn’t worthy of worship
Argue about Wiles’ view – is he right or are the criticisms of his ideas more convincing?

7. Task – 10 minutes Complete the looped puzzle activity
Two clues to help you:
Holland says that miracles are coincidences
Polkinghorne says that God acts through our free choices

8. This is me:
This is God:
There are lots of differences between me and God. For example, God can do anything:
God isn’t physical:
God knows everything:

9. God knows my past:
God knows my future:
God has been around forever:
God is always good:
God never changes:

10. The Attributes of God

12. The nature of God Key questions: Does God exist in time?
Booklets, p.52
Key questions:
Does God exist in time?
What do religious believers mean when they describe God as omnipotent, omniscient and omni-benevolent?
Do these terms have any real relevance today?
Why are they significant to religious believers?

13. What is ‘God’? Is this an unanswerable question?
How might it be difficult for an atheist and a religious believer to discuss the concept of ‘God’?

14. The God of Classical Theism
Traditional Christian definitions of God include five key concepts:
Simplicity
Eternity
Omniscience
Omnipotence
Omni-benevolence

15. The God of Classical Theism
Problems
Simplicity
Eternity
Omniscience
Omnipotence
Omni-benevolence