Holland’s views on Miracles:
Approach to miracles: Anti-realist
Hollands definition of a miracle: Miracles are “a remarkable and beneficial coincidence that is
interpreted in a religious fashion.”
Overview: The focus of Hollands view of miracles is the idea of Interpretation. To him a miracle
has value based on the meaning and beneficial impact it gives to peoples own personal views of
life and religion. A miracle is a miracle if the person that experiences the event believes it to be
so. There is no violation of nature and it does not necessary involve the intervention of
transcendent being. To Holland Miracles are significant to religious people because the event
can be interpreted to give value for religious belief. What we see as a miracle is subjective to
our own definition of what a miracle is. A miracle is not bought on by a Supreme-being
violating the laws of nature or interfering in the universe, but is bought on by whatever the
person experiencing the miracle believers it to be.
To Holland a miracle is
1. A coincidence
2. Positive
3. Subjective
4. An interpretation
5. exist in a religious realm
6. exist within an individual’s realm (links to 5)
Hollands views bought to life:
- child is playing on railway line
- he’s playing with a car and the wheel of the car gets stuck in one of the tracks
- so child’s stuck on the railway line
- An express train is due to come and it is impossible for the driver to stop in time
Approach to miracles: Anti-realist
Hollands definition of a miracle: Miracles are “a remarkable and beneficial coincidence that is
interpreted in a religious fashion.”
Overview: The focus of Hollands view of miracles is the idea of Interpretation. To him a miracle
has value based on the meaning and beneficial impact it gives to peoples own personal views of
life and religion. A miracle is a miracle if the person that experiences the event believes it to be
so. There is no violation of nature and it does not necessary involve the intervention of
transcendent being. To Holland Miracles are significant to religious people because the event
can be interpreted to give value for religious belief. What we see as a miracle is subjective to
our own definition of what a miracle is. A miracle is not bought on by a Supreme-being
violating the laws of nature or interfering in the universe, but is bought on by whatever the
person experiencing the miracle believers it to be.
To Holland a miracle is
1. A coincidence
2. Positive
3. Subjective
4. An interpretation
5. exist in a religious realm
6. exist within an individual’s realm (links to 5)
Hollands views bought to life:
- child is playing on railway line
- he’s playing with a car and the wheel of the car gets stuck in one of the tracks
- so child’s stuck on the railway line
- An express train is due to come and it is impossible for the driver to stop in time
