This does not mean, of course, that we are committed to believing all stories of miracles. Most stories about miraculous events are probably false: if it comes to that, most stories about natural events are false. Lies, exaggerations, misunderstandings and hearsay make up perhaps more than half of all that is said and written in the world. We must therefore find a criterion whereby to judge any particular story of the miraculous.
C. S. Lewis, 1896-1963, Miracles, 13: On Probability, (Harper Collins Publishers, 1996, p. 159)
What criteria should we use to test the historical reliability of miracles? Why?
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I think that we should begin with the nature and character of God when we evaluate the reliability of any ancient story.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that is a key criteria, whether the story is ancient or modern.
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