Faith And Magical Thinking

Last updated on: September 8, 2018 at 8:41 pm by Ambaa Choate

Faith And Magical Thinking 2018-09-08T20:41:45-04:00 Ambaa Choate

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I don’t need my faith to be magical, to be otherworldly, to break the rules of physics. It seems like some people use that as a measure of the strength or validity of their religion.

To me an important part of a religious system is that it supports and explains what we see in the world around us. The very definition of miracles is that they are events that are impossible according to the laws the universe functions in. These alleged events break the rules, are outside of how things all work.

I find that pretty much useless.

Floating Whale Kite Free Photo —By Ryan McGuire gratisography.com/

I don’t want miracles from my Gods and my religion. I think religions are stronger when they don’t sell magical thinking, when they operate within the bounds of nature. I’m not looking for a powerful being to change the course of nature for me. But it seems like that’s what a lot of religious figures are selling (within my own religion as well).

What do you think? Is part of the purpose of religion to claim that some beings can break the rules of physics, death, and the normal course of our lives?

Philosophy Corner

Previous Post

September 6, 2018

My Pinterest Home (Navratri Prep)

Next Post

September 11, 2018 Necessity of Sleep

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Book Club Hindu Holiday How Am I Being a Hindu This Week? Inside the Life Meet a God Meet a Guru Movie Club Philosophy Corner Resources Scripture Uncategorized Wild Card

Select a Month February 2020 September 2019 May 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was Jesus' first miracle?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Feeding the 5,000 Turning water into wine Walking on water Healing a blind man