This passage is adapted from John Henry Newman’s “On the Miracles of Scripture,” written in 1825-1826. A miracle may be considered as an event inconsistent with the constitution of nature, that is, with the established course of things in which it is found. It does not necessarily imply a violation of nature, as some have supposed, but merely the interposition of an external cause.
It may often be difficult exactly to draw the line between uncommon and miraculous events. Thus, the production of ice might have seemed at first sight miraculous to some tropical cultures, for it was a phenomenon that didn’t seem to follow the laws of nature typically found in tropical climates. Such, again, might magnetic attraction appear in ages familiar only with the attraction of gravity. On the other hand, the extraordinary works of Moses or St. Paul1 appear miraculous, even when referred to those simple laws of nature that the widest experience has confirmed.
In proof of miraculous occurrences, we must have the same kind of evidence as that by which we determine the truth of historical accounts in general. For though miracles, in consequence of their extraordinary nature, require a fuller and more accurate investigation, still they do not require an investigation conducted on different principles—testimony being the main medium of proof for past events of any kind.
And this being indisputable, it is almost equally so that the Christian Miracles are attested by evidence even stronger than can be produced for any of those historical facts which we most firmly believe. This has been felt by unbelievers who have been, in consequence, led to deny the admissibility of even the strongest testimony if offered in behalf of miraculous events and thus to get rid of the only means by which they can be proved to have taken place. It has accordingly been asserted that all events inconsistent with the course of nature bear such strong and decisive marks of falsehood and absurdity, that it is needless to examine the evidence for them.
“Where men are heated by zeal and enthusiasm,” says Hume, with a distant but evident allusion to the Christian Miracles, “there is no degree of human testimony so strong as may not be procured for the greatest absurdity, and those who will be so silly as to examine the affair by that medium and seek particular flaws in the testimony are almost sure to be confounded.”
Of these objections, which are supposed to decide the question, the most popular is founded on the frequent occurrence of wonderful tales in every age and country—generally, too, connected with religion. Since the more we are in a situation to examine these accounts, the more fabulous they are proved to be, there would certainly be a fair presumption against the Scripture narrative, did it resemble them in its circumstances and proposed object. A more refined argument is that advanced by Hume, in the first part of his “Essay On Miracles,” in which it is maintained against the credibility of a Miracle, that it is more probable that the testimony should be false than that the Miracle should be true.
1 Editor’s Note: The author is referring to miraculous works attributed to Moses and St. Paul, as recorded in key Biblical texts.
This passage has been excerpted and adapted from the original, including minor punctuation changes, spelling changes, and other modifications that have not substantially changed content or intent. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following could be considered a miracle? Not Answered A) The discovery of a new law of physics on magnetism B) The melting of ice after a long winter in Maine C) The beliefs of Christian saints about salvation D) The reversal of decay on a molding sandwich Which lines in the passage provide the best evidence in support of the answer to the previous question? Not Answered A) Paragraph 1, Sentence 1 (“A miracle . . . found”) B) Paragraph 2, Sentence 1 (“It may . . . events”) C) Paragraph 2, Sentence 2 (“Thus . . . climates”) D) Paragraph 3, Sentence 1 (“In proof . . . general”) Compared to the analysis of historical accounts, the author indicates that the analysis of accounts of miracles requires Not Answered A) a more principled investigation. B) a more robust investigation. C) a more open mind. D) a more varied catalogue of evidence. The author of the passage aims primarily to Not Answered A) define miracles and how they should be assessed. B) explain how ordinary events are mistaken for miracles. C) assess major philosophers’ views on miracles. D) argue that Christian miracles are often misrepresented. Based on the passage, the author Not Answered A) disagrees with Hume on the necessity of evidence for miracles. B) agrees with Hume on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. C) disagrees with Hume on the credibility of Christian miracles. D) agrees with Hume on the absurdity of Christian miracles. In Paragraph 6, Sentence 1, the word “founded” most closely means Not Answered A) located. B) created. C) based. D) originated. According to the passage, wondrous tales in other times and cultures generally Not Answered A) do not hold up to scrutiny. B) are almost identical to Christian tales. C) prove difficult to find. D) have strong and reliable testimony. The author concludes the passage with Not Answered A) a personal anecdote. B) a scientific inquiry. C) an opposing viewpoint. D) a supporting perspective. uncommon event : miraculous event :: Not Answered A) works of Moses : production of ice in tropical cultures B) production of ice in tropical cultures : magnetic attraction C) works of Moses : works of St. Paul D) production of ice in tropical cultures : works of Moses testimony : miracle :: Not Answered A) eyewitness : truth B) diary entry : past event C) crime : proof D) credibility : disbelief
Here are the answers to your questions based on the passage:
Based on the information in the passage, which of the following could be considered a miracle?
Which lines in the passage provide the best evidence in support of the answer to the previous question?
Compared to the analysis of historical accounts, the author indicates that the analysis of accounts of miracles requires
The author of the passage aims primarily to
Based on the passage, the author
In Paragraph 6, Sentence 1, the word “founded” most closely means
According to the passage, wondrous tales in other times and cultures generally
The author concludes the passage with
uncommon event : miraculous event ::
testimony : miracle ::
Feel free to ask if you have any further questions!