ARE MIRACLES OPPOSED TO REASON?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4489, 9 August 1875, Page 2

ARE MIRACLES OPPOSED TO REASON?

TO TIIS EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sin,—l am disposed to think that there is little difference of opinion between “J. S." and myself. Ho thinks that It is necessary to hold on to miracles until science lias given us a clearer idea of tho Deity. I think that ns a preliminary it is requisite to clear away the miracles, which, witli other tilings, have so long been obscuring our view. Notwithstanding tlio dictum “ Who by seeking shall find out God," the world has always been on the search for the Deity, For conturies past tho telescope lias been directed in search of a venerable man, powerful, hut extremely capricious, and capable of being acted upon by earwigging of all sorts. In fact, a Persian monarch of tho olden time. What, wonder if with tins foregone conclusion at tho small end of tho telescope, the idea of the Deity has been further removed than ever. If ever a commencement of a clear idea of tho Deity Is to bo obtained, wo must remove tho impurities of tho atmosphere which obscure tiio vision, and perhaps tho tlrst thing to be done is to discard mlrachcs. If the Christian religion, or any religion, is to stand, miracles aro assuredly a very insecure foundation to stand upon. Tho ancient miracles aro extremely interesting. They aro natural to- an Arab race In tho state of civilisation. which Arab races had then reached, and more than that, they may probably be appropriate to Arab races of the present day not contaminated by contact with Europe. But they are not true, nor hardly meant to bo true. They aro novels, romances, appropriate to one race, but not to another. When the European races of coarser tlbro, although of more intellectual power, take up the same business, it is at once seen what a mess they make of It. Tho old miracles aro narrated in a simple manner, and have all the appear-

ance of fact about them until some exercise of the reason is applied. Even then the reason has some feelings of compunction to decide that they are merely mythical. But the European modern miracles are utterly clumsy, palpable impostures of the most vulgar kind, and are simply hideous and repulsive to reason, or even to a cultivated imagination. It is probable that if “J. S." will turn his telescope with a fresh idea, not that of finding an old capricious man depending upon miracles as his support, but with clear and not pre-dccided views, he sweeps his fieldglass over the heavens, he may have the chance of throwing the first glimmerings of light on a subject interesting to all of us.—l am, &c.. Reviewer.