Miracles is a book by Christian apologist C. S. Lewis originally published in 1947 and revised in 1960. In it, Lewis makes the case for miracles by first arguing that there must be something more than nature or "the whole show", and then arguing that the something more is a benevolent being, and that it is likely that he would intervene in nature after creating it. The book is similar to Mere Christianity in that it progresses from an agnosticism to a fully Christian world view.
In a preliminary chapter on "Red Herrings", Lewis deals with some of the arguments put forth against the possibility of miracles and the action of the supernatural. These are arguments made often, he says, by some biblical scholars as they date pieces of the New Testament. His tactic is to show that these arguments assume their conclusion in their premises.
The philosophical view with which Lewis starts is pantheism, or naturalism. He argues that rather than being an outdated, ancient mode of thought, pantheism (his definition: the worship of God or gods as abstract and a part of nature) is the natural mode of human thought without revelation. Men and women want to worship "Justice", "Love", or other abstractions, he argues, but these abstractions only find secure meaning in the context of revelation.
In a chapter on "Natural Laws", Lewis addresses the issue of whether miracles are incompatible with natural law or science. He argues that rather than being mutually exclusive, miracles are definite interventions that go beyond natural laws. Miracles are consistent with nature, but beyond natural law. They are caused by a benevolent being.
All of the major miracles of the New Testament are treated, with the incarnation (in which God becomes man) playing the central role. Also included are two appendices which deal with matters of free will and the value of prayer.
Pages:
304 Format:
Paperback EAN/ISBN:
978-0060653019 Publisher:
HarperOne; New Ed edition (February 6, 2001)
