Updated: 03/15/04
 

 

CHAPTER 17

MIRACLES

            What is a miracle? By definition, a miracle is something that cannot happen. A miracle (as described by the religious) is an act or happening that takes place all the time. It is assumed to bypass all cause and effect. A miracle is a presumed supernatural intervention into the natural order of the world or universe. It is supposed to override, nullify and Steal some effect from the natural workings and causes of Nature.

            This supernatural intervention claims to turn water into wine. It is said to multiply fish and bread until thousands of people are fed from a small boy's lunch. This supernatural intervention is reported to cause a man to walk on water as though it were dry land. This intervention is claimed to respond to the plea of a Jewish General to make the earth stand still (actually described as the sun standing still). This supernatural intervention into the laws of nature is reputed to cause the long dead saints to come back to life and walk the streets of Jerusalem. Funny, these fantastic events never made the headlines or history books in Rome, Athens or Jerusalem. This is not to mention other examples from the Jewish and Christian Bibles like instantaneous travel over long distances, an iron ax head floating, donkeys and snakes talking, using words to control weather and many more unbelievable and unverifiable wonders.

            The believers claim a miracle takes place every time someone asks God in prayer to let it rain - and it rains. A miracle takes place when the minister asks God to heal someone's sickness or disease - and they recover. According to the believer, at man's request God gets rid of bugs that are eating the crops. He sends food to those who ask for it. He helps people find their way when they are lost. God stills the storm so the one who begs can return home safely. There is no limit to the Claims. Of course people get well, bugs die, help arrives and storms clear up.

            According to the Catholic histories, during the early Dark Ages or Medieval days, there were literally thousands upon thousands of miracles claimed. People who had their heads chopped off, picked them up, put them back on and walked off. People flew around in the air, voluntarily and involuntarily. People turned stones into bread, rode flying sticks or horses, turned lead into gold. You name it and it was claimed by many witnesses to have happened.

            The biggest miracle of all occurred daily. That is literally thousands of people talked daily to God and more miraculous yet, God talked back to them. God ordered the deaths of thousands upon thousands during these talks with his people. He told the Catholic believers who talked with him exactly who were the heretics and who were not (according to the believers). Through this miracle of divine speaking, God ordered wars, crusades, burnings, torture, beheadings, confiscation of wealth and he even ordered ignorance. (Those were Bad miracles.)

            At one time in the past, according to the priests and the Pope, God outlawed reading and writing for all except the highest clerics in the church and those who were found doctrinally sound (brain washed) enough to be trained as scribes. The secular and religious historians who covered the period between the fourth and twelfth century, recorded the Catholic Church's claim that God went so far as to order the destruction of past knowledge. That is, God outlawed science, medicine, history, mechanics and all scholarship except that which agreed with the doctrines of the church. Little did!

            These people who heard God's Voice sworn they heard him speak. They had affidavits, many of which are still on record. They had eyewitnesses, they had ear witnesses, all of whom swore that God (using the miracle of divine speaking) ordered these horrible things when he spoke to those favored men and women. They all swore God ordered these marvelous and wonderful murders and tortures. This is the cloth from which All miracles are cut. How then shall we view these miracle claims?

            The gist of the matter, as Clear Thinkers see it, is some men lie. The more ignorant a person is, the more unreasonable the lies he will tell - or believe. It was therefore, Necessary to keep the people as ignorant as possible. And the church did just that! Remember Adam and Eve? Well, God doesn't give up so easily. He kept right on instructing his followers to glorify ignorance and to brand knowledge, wisdom and thinking as "deceiver of mankind.” It does help the lie if you hide the truth and try to describe ignorance as - "innocence.”

            Even in those days, when most people would believe anything and did, there were a few voices raised in defense of truth. Most of them paid with their lives, but some of their writings have been saved. Some of these writers were at the miracle site during the time of the alleged miracle. They vehemently denied a miracle took place. Some claimed to know the person to whom the miracle was said to have happened. These writers swore that even the person, to whom it was reported to have happened, denied that the miracle took place.

            In studying the etymology of words, one can sometimes come upon the truth when they have been blinded to it by the changed usage and interpretation of that word. Etymology is the study of the derivations and beginnings of a word as it was originally used in a particular language. The English language is a very rich language. It takes many of its roots for modern words from other old small words in the earlier languages and puts them together to make a bigger word, and therefore, a better symbol or concept for communication. One of the best sources for the average scholar is the Oxford English Dictionary. The thirteen volumes take up a whole shelf in my library.

            Take a word like "awful.” When that word was first coined, it literally meant "full of awe" and meant something good and grand. Today most people understand "awful" to mean something very bad. By misuse, people gradually changed the usage, but not the true meaning of the word.

            One must understand that All Claimed miracles Must be either believed or doubted. If a miracle can be explained, redone or demonstrated as true, it is no longer a miracle. There can be No Proof for Any claimed miracle; otherwise, it cannot be classified as a miracle. Therefore, the key to All miracle claims is - “Belief.”

All miracles must have believers who believe in the miracle Claim before it is possible for it to be classified or certified by the church as a miracle.

            Now look at the word "believer.” When this word was first used in the English language, it was made up out of three older small words and it meant to "be a lie lover.” "Belie" was the first usage of this new word in English.

            According to Webster's International and the Oxford English dictionaries, the root words that make up the word "believer" and "belief" still retains their true meaning. These two root words make up the word "belie.” That word is still used and means to misrepresent, or to tell a lie. Add the "f" to "belie" and you have "belief," which meant, to Accept the misrepresentation (or lie) as though it were the truth. Originally, the "f" was written to designate the word "for" and meant, "to be For the lie, to accept, or to agree with the lie.” So the word was first written in early English as "belief' r.” This word was then divided into two words. One was shortened to belief ' then, to just “belief” as we have it now and it Still literally means, to "be for the lie,” or to "be in favor of the lie." The other division added the “ver” (the shortened form of lover) to form the word “Believer.” Thus, we have “belief,” which is the lie, and “believer,” or one who accepts the lie as though it were the truth.

            Today the religious tell us the word Believer is a good word. The Clear Thinkers say the word still means Exactly what it did when it was first made up out of three old commonly used early English words, that is, anyone who will still "be a lie lover.”

            As a Clear Thinker, I can comprehend and accept the different and even the weird. But I cannot accept a miracle that simply cannot happen. I cannot accept something that is against all the laws of matter, and against all the laws of common sense, and in some cases against all the laws of wholesome morality. I cannot accept that a Good and Just God does something against all of the good moral and ethical behavior held in common by all mankind. I cannot conceive that God aids and abets slavery or rape (as the Bible says he does). I can, however, very easily accept the fact that some men lie About God to gain power, lie about God to gain the upper hand against their enemies, lie about God to gain wealth, lie about God to gain fame and lie about God to gain the prestige of having been favored by God in some special way.

            Examine the miracle of the ass or donkey talking. First, was it ventriloquism? If a (Super Being) ventriloquist spoke so it Seemed to come from the donkey, this could be considered a great skill, but it could not be considered a miracle. If ventriloquism was used, there was no miracle and the ass did not talk. Also, there is no mention of a third party who could have done it.

            Second, for a donkey to Actually talk, it would need a soft palate and a hinged tongue. Third, it would need split vocal cords and a human shaped esophagus. Fourth, the cells of tissue would have to disassemble themselves then reassemble to conform to the configuration necessary to produce human sounds. Fifth, the bones of the head, neck and jaws would have to reform themselves into the proper configuration. Sixth, it would need a rational brain capable of handling human concepts and language. Seventh, it would need lots and lots of knowledge and practice. Eighth, even with all this it would still need a very gullible listener. Finally, all the process would have to be reversed so this very unusual, smart beast could be turned back into a dumb ass.

            The Clear Thinker doubts any God or Devil would go to so much trouble just to impress a rebellious holy man with his instructions and power. It makes one wonder just who was the real dumb ass and which ass was it that spoke. It is really a shame for the Christian and Jewish religions that the holy man was not riding a parrot. I honestly doubt this story can be true.

            So again, what is a miracle? The dictionaries describe this word “miracle” as a supernatural interruption of the natural fabric of the universe. It is an event that is ascribed to the interference between the cause and effect by a supernatural agency. There are many events in this world and solar system that we do not understand. That is not to mention the many events of the universe. Now answer this question. Is an event a miracle just because we do not understand all of the natural causes in the universe? The correct answer is, "No!"

            To the natives of New Guinea, the airplane of World War II was a miracle. They even worshiped it and set up a new religion, which We call "Cargo Worship." To paraphrase their description and name of their religion would be, “Ancestral Watch Care.” The priests and prophets of this Cargo religion are still active and daily gain new converts to their concept. They have an exceptionally well thought out theology that was established by a graduate of theirs from Harvard Divinity School and another who graduated from Oxford University in England. They have one of the few religions that have almost no internal conflicts and contradictions such as plagues Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Their central theme is, “Do not do to others what you would not have done to you, and your ancestors will take care of you.” You should read about it. As religions go, it is somewhat logical and moral.

            The radio was a "miracle" to those who were not familiar with it. So too are television, lasers and modern medicine. But the question is, are these events really "miracles?” Again, we must answer, no. They are all the working out of sound scientific principles. They are all the results of cause and effect. Of course, there are computers and the Internet. They seem miraculous to me. (I am just expressing my layman’s awe here.)

            One purpose of science is to learn and understand about the way nature works. Then taking that understanding, scientists and engineers in all areas develop equipment, devices and methods, which to the uninitiated appear to be miracles. This includes the sciences of the mind - the healing sciences.

            The whole concept and structure of science is based upon the fact that:

THERE IS NO SUPERNATURAL INTERVENTION
BETWEEN THE CAUSE AND THE EFFECT.

            While we are on the subject of science, let us look at what are called "the laws of physics,” or "the laws of nature.” The term "law or laws" is an unusual use of the term. Take the law of gravity. Gravity is one of the most widely known and least understood aspects of the natural workings of nature. The understanding that we do have enables science to place satellites in orbit around the earth. It enables us to calculate the size and weight of suns, planets and other bodies in space. It enables us to send men to the moon and more importantly, bring them back.

            But what we are talking about is not a law that God or man has passed. What we are simply saying is, by observation, thinking and testing, we have discovered some Facts about the nature of gravity. That knowledge enables us to predict what will happen if we do this or that. By observing, experimenting and thinking hard about the subject, it has been determined, given a specific set of circumstances, the same thing will always happen. No amount of prayer can change it. No supernatural intervention has ever occurred, or ever can.

            Scientists have cataloged these observations. That catalog of facts about how matter acts and reacts has been called the "laws of physics.” By no means has science made all the observations it can or will. These "laws" are being amended daily by our scientists. New truths are being discovered ever day. All of the observations that science have made always turn out the same, given the same set of circumstances. Some men have seen fit to call these observations and facts, "laws.”

            Using these observations, science has developed methods to overcome gravity. Thus, we have airplanes, bridges, tall buildings, gliders, kites, rockets and a multitude of other useful items. But so far, there has been no official break through in understanding gravity. Many are working, or have worked on the subject trying to understand enough to either produce artificial gravity, or to produce anti gravity. So far, there has been little to no announced progress. However, there are presently some very strong rumors and witnesses to anti gravity use.

            With these things in mind, what if you go to the lake one Sunday and see a man walking on the water. What will you think? Will you suspect a miracle in which the observations (laws) of gravity, nature and physics have suddenly been suspended by the intrusion of some supernatural power? Or will you suspect some sort of trick, or science at work? Would you think about glass pontoons, wires or stumps, or that some scientific device had been employed? Most people will suspect a trick or science at work. Why? Because normally, water just does not become solid like that and you know it. This is not to say walking on the water is impossible, but some sort of anti gravity device, or scientific molecular freezing affect would be necessary.

            If Jesus possessed an anti gravity device, then he might be considered a super scientist, but this knowledge would not qualify him for Godhood. There are those in California who claim Jesus Was an astronaut. That is in keeping with the observations of science. If you have "proof" of such a claim, I am willing to listen to your proof. If you claim Jesus was a God and that he walked on the water as though it were dry land, without any science involved and without getting wet, I will listen to your proof. But please, do not expect me to "be a lie lover."

            Every effect must have a cause. Every cause must have another cause and another, forming a chain of events reaching back and back. We can add our cause at the present moving end of this chain of events, but we cannot go back and break in between the past cause and present effects. We can only add our cause at the end of the moving chain of events. Sometimes we are able to correct the effect of some cause by injecting our cause. Thus, we are able to fight the effect (cancer) by using laser radiation (our cause). But we cannot go back in time and stop the formation of the cancer. It is highly possible that one's own mind may have the ability to cause the cancer to dissolve. But again, that would be a fact of the science of the mind.

Nothing happens without natural cause and effect. Nothing!

            All religions, about which I have read or studied, are based upon miracles, miracle births, miracle lives, miracle healings, miracle deaths and miracle resurrections. In other words, Every religion is based upon these supposed events that no Clear Thinking person would believe was a supernatural intervention if they were eyewitnesses to those same events. A big part of the problem is, all these events were told to us in holy books by unidentifiable persons who do not even claim to be eyewitnesses.

            People writing many, many years after the so-called events describe the events in great detail as though they had been there. Some writers even claim they received the information in dreams or visions. Some claim these things came to them by "inspiration.” That is, they saw it all "in their heads.” Or to be more concise, they “Believed” they were inspired when they saw it in their heads, or imagined it. So, we are back to belief again.

            One must be careful when thinking about miracles. A civilization that is thousands or millions of scientific years ahead of us may understand Nature in such a way so as to manipulate the forces of Nature in the same way we manipulate chemicals to produce something new from common materials. Some things that we call miracles may be just the knowledge and use of advanced science by others (often called angels, spirits or gods) present with us. However, nothing can happen unless the knowledge and forces of Nature are used to accomplish it. Some may understand the body and mind well enough to cause healing without touching the body. Even we Might can do it, if and when we have learned, or been taught How. It is called science of the mind.

            What does a Clear Thinker have to say about miracles and this chain of events? First, there has not been a single miracle observed or certified in any way by members of the scientific community. This includes the shroud of Christ, the so-called miracle cures of the sick, the UFO at Lourdes, or any other kind of so-called miracle. It may be weird but it is real, and therefore, natural.

            Second, by the very definition of a miracle one could not happen without understanding and using the laws and powers of nature. A miracle as explained by the believers is a claimed event that sets aside natural cause and effect and interrupts all the natural functions of the fabric of matter. This has never happened and never will happen. However, many unusual events have been caused to happen using the natural powers of nature.

            Third, a claimed miracle, since it cannot be proven, is a matter of faith or belief. If it could be proven or duplicated it would no longer be thought of as a miracle. It would be an occurrence of nature, or a fact of science. One can only believe or doubt a miracle claim.

            Fourth, people are generally very gullible. Some will believe anything even with specific proof to the contrary. Those who believe will repeat the story and even enlarge upon the details. This is the stuff from which miracles are made; that is, dreams and visions out of people's heads, tricks, restoration to health misunderstood, stories told and enlarged upon and sometimes just outright lies and deceptions.

            Which brings us to a fifth reason. In any scientific study, the simplest and most believable explanation is always preferred over the more complicated and unbelievable explanation. This means, if there is a simple scientifically probable or provable explanation for an event, that simple easily provable explanation is much preferred to the more highly complex explanation without any proof.

            The situation with miracles is like that. The complex and impossible explanation is that the natural laws of matter ceased to function for a brief period in one place at one time. The Effect of some cause was Stolen by some supernatural being. Since no scientific observation of such a single theft of an effect (or miracles) has ever been noted, that unbelievable explanation is rejected in favor of two explanations, which can be proven, or that are highly plausible.

            The first provable explanation is, "Men Lie." We have great evidence of this in our society. In every area, Except Religion, we seek to protect ourselves from the lies of men. Laws, contracts, juries, judges, lawyers, book keeping, accounting, oaths and many other attempts are made to defend ourselves against liars who are prevalent in our society. An equally provable explanation for these lies is men seek to deceive others and do it for both the delight of it and the profit of it.

            The gist of the matter is, it is very easy to understand and to accept that men lie. The harder it is to check up on a lie, the easier it is to let one's imagination run off on a wild and fanciful "goose chase.” It is impossible to check and see if God spoke to someone. The people who tell these stories about miracles would make good storywriters. They would not make good science fiction writers. They possess little knowledge of science.

            The second provable explanation is that one's own mind is capable of much control over his own body. Under hypnosis, one can become capable of doing things that he never imagined he could do. The science of the mind is in its infancy and we all wait to find out what is next in this most interesting branch of our science. Some day, some events, classified as miracles in the past, may suddenly become commonplace when we find out How to do these things. Sometimes our mind does some spectacular things that appear to be miracles, but they are not. They are the result of natural causes and (consciously or subconsciously) learned abilities.

            Before concluding this section, a word needs to be said about medical "miracles.” There has never been a medical case in which a miracle has been demonstrated or observed. Unusual things have happened, but to classify them as miracles is to ignore other plausible and possible explanations. No new body parts have grown back after being removed such as legs, arms, feet, hands or toes. Even now, some regrowth has been achieved by our scientists using animals and by manipulating genes. The more we understand, the more we can accomplish in the field of health.

            The human body has so developed that it will basically heal itself if given a chance, if it is not interfered with by harmful actions, stress or guilt. Many seemingly physical problems are proven to actually be psychosomatic. That is, the problem lies in the mind. Many so-called faith cures or miracles actually happen. The cancer or disease goes away and sometimes very rapidly. But what often happens is the guilt or mental stress in the believer's mind is released. This in turn relieves the body from its depression and allows the natural cure or restoration to health to begin. Such so-called cures may include paralysis, speech problems, even cancer and other diseases. A healthy mind goes a long way toward producing a healthy body. Aliens with advanced science must also be considered since there have been reports of such happenings (often described as UFO entities, angels, spirits and such).

            Sometimes a religion can undo a portion of the damage that it has caused in a believer's mind by taking away some of the guilt it has placed there. By taking away some of the guilt, the stress of the body is relieved enough to allow and encourage the body to heal itself.

            So here is one more reason why Clear Thinkers cannot accept miracles. Believing in miracles produces mental problems. Those who believe God can cure them of a disease, will also believe God can Give or allow them to get a disease. The guilt that the religions can place in a person will cause that person to believe he is surely bad enough for God to give him a disease as punishment for some supposed wrongdoing. Belief, as we have seen, is a destructive and negative force in the life of a person. Belief probably sends more people to mental institutions, to hospitals and to the graveyard than any other one thing.

            Knowledge and truth does not send people to hospitals and mental institutions. Knowledge keeps people in a positive frame of mind. Honest Doubt and knowledge produces stability. Belief and faith produces instability, not only mentally and emotionally, but physically as well. The Clear Thinker's advice for good physical and mental health is to doubt all miracles. They are not and could not be supernatural interventions into the affairs of the world, or the affairs of man. God does not “monkey” with man!

            Finally, the last reason Clear Thinkers reject miracles is there is no proof of such a supernatural religious God to begin with. Think for a moment! If there were a religious God what would be the purpose of a miracle? The only reasons I can think of would be:

                        1. To attract attention,

                        2. To add authority to what is being said or done, or

                        3. To correct some former mistake, which the God had made.

            If there were a religious God like the Bible says, then there is also a religious Devil God like the Bible says. The Bible says the Devil can do miracles as well as God. Indeed, the Devil is called the ruler of this world in the Bible. If one observes a miracle, who did it? God or the Devil? The Devil can lie and deceive so how could one possibly know if the Devil was the author, or if God was the author of the miracle? Who is attracting one's attention? Wouldn't the Devil declare himself to be the good God? How could we tell? By His Teachings! Check and see who (or which God) ordered murders, genocide, stoning of kids, or hatred and hostility against other beliefs and races. And then the God who did this bragged about it in his book! Yes, you need to Think about this!

By their fruits shall you know them!

            Second, how could a miracle add authority to anything even if there were miracles? If you saw the so-called miracle, you would most likely not believe it to be supernatural. Would any Honest thinking person to whom you told it, believe it to be a miracle? I doubt it. Only the gullible, weak minded and credulous would believe it. Doesn't God know this fact? The gullible do not need a miracle to convince them. All one has to do is just tell a little lie and they will believe it. Clear Thinkers cannot accept any so called miracle as a supernatural intervention into nature, nor into the affairs of man.

            Does God waste his time like this? Would God seek to use a method that would Detract from his authority with thinking people instead of enhancing it? That is not good advertising anywhere or anytime. If you actually witnessed a miracle and told other thinking people about it, they would think something had happened to Your mind. Why would we think any less about God's mind if He decided to work miracles on the earth at the expense of his wisdom, justice and truthfulness?

            Finally, if a miracle were needed to correct some mistake which God had formerly made, or let happen, would he wish to make a big deal out of it in front of witnesses? Would he not rather take care of it on the quiet and not draw attention to his former mistake? He could make it look natural and take care of the problem over a little time and no one would be the wiser. Would any God (or Devil) advertise his mistakes?

            Who wants to admit God makes mistakes and has to use miracles to correct them? Religion goes blindly on in its self-deception, never stopping to think about what great and dreadful harm it is doing to mankind. To lie to mankind is one thing. To scare men into believing, or at least into living the lie is the worst sort of slavery. If there is an honest, just God, he doesn't make mistakes that would require miracles to correct them.

            There is one other point to list under miracles. Every single religion has enormously long lists of miracles. All of course, were written long after the supposed events. Thus, each religion seeks to show divine approval and verify its teachings by claiming a vast array of these divine miracles.

            There has never been a religion whether modern or ancient, western or eastern, Christian or Pagan that has not claimed innumerable miracles. If miracles were a sign of divine approval, then All religions would have an equal claim to the backing of God. But remember this, each religion “Disclaims” All miracles Except the ones belonging to Them. Since it is just as easy to disclaim a Christian miracle, as it is a Hindu one, God picked a very poor and dubious method to certify his favorite religion.

The more miracles necessary to prove a religion, the less Truth that religion has to stand on.

            In the final analysis, all miracles are started either by the ignorant (who misunderstood) or by liars. That is, by people who knew a miracle did not occur. There is no greater proof that our religions are false and full of falsehoods than the reliance upon miracles to prove divine favor. If there were a God and he wanted to separate his favorite religion from all the false religions, he certainly would not use the same identical method that all the false religions use to prove that their religion is from God. A wise and honest God would use some other method to prove the validity of his religion and his approved philosophy.

            A just, wise and honest God Might use Honest Clear Thinking as His stamp of approval. All of the religions are exactly alike, false and futile in all of their claims.

            If we read the New Testament leaving out the miracles, what do we have left? Next to nothing. If we leave out the miracles, what then do we know about the Man, Jesus? Nothing, absolutely nothing! So, we are forced to draw some conclusions. The New Testament was not originally written about the Man, Jesus. Rather, the New Testament was first written about the God called Christ. The early New Testament writings were not about a man called Jesus. Rather, they were about a God called Christ who worked miracles without using the laws of nature.

            The stories about this Anointed (Christ) were told or written First. I doubt if any Jew would have forsaken his religion for a Man. But for a Spiritual Christ God that was revealed by their Own God in their Own scriptures, some could. This New Testament Spiritual Christ was First revealed by some Gnostic and Jewish scholars who found it Hidden in their Own Old Testament scriptures. They declared this Gnostic Spiritual Christ was the same Son of God described and preached by the Escenes and the Hellenists. The death, burial and resurrection, the defeat of Satan and the victory over Death by this Spiritual Christ was something that happened in the spiritual world. This is the spiritual Christ taught by Paul (or Pol of the Gnostic faith) in the New Testament.

            It was only in the second through the fourth century AD when these stories and concepts were rewritten to make this Spiritual Anointed God (Christ) into a human man. It was only when they wanted to appeal to the Greeks and Romans. They had to find some Man in a historical setting who could be counted as fulfilling some of the claims made in the Old Testament about this Spiritual Christ. It was only Then that this Spiritual God (Christ) became the Man Jesus and was given a human history. They also gave this newly created God Man, a mama and two daddies.

            It was done to make the Spiritual God called Christ (Anointed) by the Gnostic Jews, seem like all the Other God Men of history. Those earlier God Men also did all the things that the Bible Jesus God (or Christ) is claimed to have done. This “New History” was written so that the New Holy Catholic Church could appeal to the ignorant and gullible people. And it worked! Then the church spent hundreds of years destroying the evidence that proved what they had done. But they didn't quite complete the job. Thank goodness!

            So the miracles of pregnancy, birth, the shepherds, the star, the wise men, healing the sick, walking on the water, feeding a multitude from a small boy’s lunch, raising the dead, cursing the fig tree, cleansing the temple, great drops of sweat running down like blood, death on a tree, burial in a tomb, the resurrection, the ascension and all the rest belong to the Anointed (Christ the God Man). And all of these miracles were also claimed for All The Rest of the God Men who preceded Jesus in history. Were these miracles real for all the rest of the Christ Gods? I honestly doubt it and I'll bet you doubt it too. Therefore, shall I postulate that the miracles of the Christian “Jesus God” are made from the same stuff from which the miracles of the other Christ Gods are made? I conclude that is the case.

            Look how indefensible is the miracle story of the Devil God taking Jesus (the God Man) to the top of the Temple to show him all the kingdoms of the earth. Did the Devil grab Jesus and force him to fly up in the sky with him? Did Jesus volunteer to go with the Devil? Why? Did they have a nice conversation? How did the religious reporter find out what the Devil said to Jesus and how did he find out what Jesus said to the Devil? If you were on the ground, could you have seen them flying through the air? Did Jesus hold on to the Devil so he would not fall? The top of the Temple was a very small rounded place. Could two people even stand on the pinnacle together without scaffolding? Could the people below see them? Why didn't the Devil take Jesus to a high mountain instead of the temple, which is not very high? Could they see All the kingdoms of the earth as the Bible says? Even China? Is this not based on the concept that the earth is flat?

            Some holy men say, "Well, it didn't actually happen. It is an Allegory (a made up story). It only happened in the mind of Christ when the Devil entered the mind of Christ to tempt him." Oh! The Devil entered the mind of Christ (The God)! How odd. So, Jesus didn't actually See the Devil. They didn't actually talk. The New Testament is in error when it says that they actually did talk and fly up to the top of the temple. Then the dialog is also fabricated. Did I get that right?

            Why is this nonsense in the Bible? I will tell you why. It is because All the other past God Men had this very same type of temptation with the Evil God (or Devil). Why is the story of the crucifixion and resurrection in the Bible? I will tell you the answer to that also. All the other Gods claimed this very same thing in one form or another. If you are going to create or make a God, then you must follow the acceptable and often used, “God Blueprint.” Your God has to do all of those things, which Gods do. Otherwise, Your God would Not qualify for Godhood.

            Men still make Gods today using only the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet!

            One type of miracle that pervades the whole of the Old Testament and the whole of the New Testament has to do with the quotes of Jesus and God. The religious reporters who wrote these quotes were Not present and in many places God or Jesus were By Themselves. In this instance, all of this took place only in the Mind of Jesus. How do they Do that?

            Mt.26:39, Mk.14:36 and Lk.22:42, all quote Jesus' prayer that he made in the garden while his followers were asleep. “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.”

            Immediately thereafter, Jesus is captured and held away from his followers until he was (claimed to be) killed on a pole (cross). I have read of no theologians or Free Thinkers who have asked and Answered this question. How could anyone Know what prayer Jesus prayed, or what God or Jesus said while they were by themselves, or what they Thought? Of course, in the earlier copies of the Gospels the quotes were not the same. However, they now match not only each other, but they also match the quotes of Mithra and some of the other Christs. Is this a miracle?

            If the miracles are left out of the New Testament, you have nothing left. There is no man, Jesus, no God (Christ), no religion, no Paul, no Peter, no John, no gospel. And that is the number one problem with (and for) Christianity.

            There are absolutely No secular or civil records that point to the truth of Any of the miracles and happenings of the New Testament. Think about, None!

        The historians (Greek, Roman and Jewish) during those early times knew absolutely nothing about the world being turned upside down by the apostles or by Paul. They knew nothing about a Jewish Christ God called Jesus. And believe me the Romans were as bad as we are in recording everything that happened. They recorded minute details of trivial things; yet, there is no mention, not even a hint, of Any of the Religious things written in the New Testament about Jesus or the early church. Of all the Religious Bible characters, only John the Baptist and Apollo (Pol of Tyana) are mentioned by these civil historians. Why? I'll tell you that too. Eusebius and Constantine had not yet created the New Holy Catholic Church, the New Holy Bible and the new Sacred History.

            Maybe you should stop right here and think about these things for a bit.

            Almost without question, miracles are tied closely with prayer. This means the greatest deception (miracles) is tied directly with the most belittling and insulting practice one could render to the Deity (that is, prayer). The reason for this is, in spite of man's absurd claims, he has not yet claimed man himself can perform these miracles. Instead, man claims the Supernatural performs these miracles at man's own begging prayers and selfish requests. That is, some holy man begs and the Deity is honor bound to perform some minor miracle upon hearing certain magic words spoken or written on paper. Some believe the Deity will heal the misinformed believer while the beggars pray and place their hands upon the sick. Clear Thinkers (who know how men have developed modern medicine and medical treatment) feel pain for the ignorance of both the layers and the layees. However, there is some evidence that healing Can take place through the concerted efforts of a group of people Even If They Are Not Christians. (Science of the mind at work?)

            One of the worst evils practiced upon the believers by the religions is the claim that if after prayer and a visit to some holy person or healing place, the victim is Not healed by some miracle, it is because that person did not have enough faith, or had an impure heart. The holy men are then absolved from failure. Plus, they have tightened their grip upon the unfortunate gullible person.

            The unfortunate faithful believer now feels obligated to get closer to his religion and his God. He is more burdened with guilt than ever. "What terrible sin have I committed to deserve this disease and this rejection from God and his Church?" This is one of the most cruel and inhumane types of crime and chaos that organized religion pulls on its own faithful. Is it any wonder Clear Thinkers seek to expose these so-called healers and the chaos they create?

            Even if there were a God and a Devil, we would have to conclude that the miracles were the work of a deceiving Devil God rather than those of a Just and Wise God.

            There is an old story that has many versions. It goes something like this. Once a wise and holy man told a king and his court (for a price) how to make gold from lead. The only two problems were, the process would not work if the mind was not pure, or if one thought of a purple and yellow spotted demon while using the magic formula. He even drew them a colored picture of this demon and placed it on the same paper with the formula. To activate the formula, the corner (by the demon picture) had to be dipped into the vat. Needless to say, no gold was ever made. Finally, in frustration, the king assembled several young innocent and pure girls. They were not told about the purple and yellow demon. When they went through the procedure, nothing happened.

            Several holy men in the king's court demanded the young girls be examined by torture to find out what their impurities were. One of the girls being the king's own innocent and pure daughter, the king forbade it. And then the king engaged himself in some Clear Honest THINKING! Where upon he made a proclamation.

            "From hence forth, be it known and practiced in all the kingdom, that no magic or miracle may be sold in the kingdom for money or service. Any and all magic and miracles shall be free. Anyone proven to have charged for, accepted contributions or service for the performance of magic or miracle shall be beheaded before all the people.”

            There being no more profit in magic and miracles, they disappeared from the kingdom. In their place, honesty and education flourished and soon a time of peace and prosperity, unknown until that time, was experienced throughout that kingdom. It lasted many, many years until the death of the wise king.

            The new king was only a young man and did not remember when magic and miracles were allowed to bleed the people of their money and thinking. So once again, miracles and magic silently and deceptively entered the land and the kingdom fell into times of crime, poverty, chaos and trouble. Ignorance and dishonesty returned. While the treasury of religion grew, the revenues of the kingdom shrank. One day a wise and holy man appeared before the new king and offered to show the king how to turn lead into gold for a certain price. The king . . .

            How much better it would be in our time if people did not expect, hope and wish for Something For Nothing. How much richer and wiser the people would be if they did not give so much time and money to superstitions that destroy their ability to think and act wisely. How much better would mankind be if he stopped believing and started using Honest Doubt and Honest Logical Thought? There is no “something for nothing” to be obtained by prayers or miracles!

THERE ARE NO SUPERNATURAL MIRACLES!

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