Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature.
Saint Augustine
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It’s amazing that the world didn’t end on New Years Eve 2000 as many had predicted. It also didn’t end on any of the other dates the false prophets were sure of. It’s not going to end next year, or in 2012, or 2020 as they are predicting now. No doubt there will be some apocalyptic changes as time goes by but they probably won’t be rapid. In fact they might be going on right now.
The earth may flip over again as some say once happened, making north south and south north. We may be growing crops for ourselves on some other planet, or growing crops here for some other planet. The natural cycles of existence may change forms but they are not going away.
It’s also amazing, considering the enormous amount of scientific exploration and examination that has gone on over the centuries how little we really know about things. I find that an encouraging and comforting thing. It means there is so much still to be learned and inquiring minds will still be busy learning it in centuries to come.
With each new advance and discovery in science the supernatural folds up another of its cherished gossamer fantasies. Ancients used to consider many things mysteries and miracles which we take for granted today because we now have explanations and principles for them.
Augustine lived in the 4th Century AD, a pagan who converted to Christianity. Even at that early time, when superstition ruled and the supernatural was esteemed, he was able to see that the great unknowns were simply that, unknowns, and not miracles. And yet, here we are 17 centuries later and there are otherwise intelligent people who still blame God instead of Nature for hurricanes and tornados, who believe in myths and call them human history.
I wonder what has brought the human race to such a recidivistic, spiritual blockade.
A person of Faith should be encouraged and comforted to know there is as much, if not more, to learn about their God as there is about Nature.
DB - The Vagabond
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Don't get into that egg nog too early now, you hear me?
4 comments:
DB, what a very interesting post! I have a few thoughts on the subject. Yes, as you stated, there is so much we don't know. But there is some things we do know. I just wanted to say that a "mystery" to Catholics mean that something is mysterious, but not that it is unknowable. A "mystery" is merely a "truth" we are to meditate upon. A truth that is very profound, has many fascinating layers, things to teach us. A "mystery" or "truth concerning the faith" and "concerning life" like this is very deep, very profound, something to meditate on, think on, learn about. It doesn't mean that a particular "mystery" or "truth" can't be known! Just wanted to explain that. And to defend poor St. Augustine, who doesn't need my help and had no problems believing in both the natural and supernatural, as they don't contradict each other. :)
God bless you, and you know i love you, db,
krissy knox :)
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Krissy, correct me if I'm wrong but I don' think anywhere in this entry do I say that anything in "unknowable."
DB
I think that our Universe is so vast, and as you so eloquently state - so much we do not know, that to believe our daily trials and tribulations are controlled by a God make us seem like puppets on strings. We live, that is wonderous in itself :o)
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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