FAITH HEALING
In the past there are stories about people being raised from death. Certainly we know now that in cases where people are seemingly dead they are actually in a coma or in case of drowning in cold water with a shut down system. These can be revived and in some cases they revive spontaneously. There are cases in the past where people have been buried alive because they did not show any signs of life. It is certain that in the past, people who were thought to have died revived during a period of mourning and the revival contributed to the present of a preacher or through the “power” of prayer. This is considered a “miracle” and no one questions why this doesn’t happen in some cases and notin other ones. “God” knows best!
Lets us examine the story of Jesus resurrection, presuming that the story is essential correct and did actually happen. The Romans used crucifixion very frequently. The person was either tied or nailed to a cross and left to die. Bodies were not taken down but left to rot for everyone to see as a reminder and deterrent. Jesus body was taken down instead. It might have looked dead since the “witnesses” did not have the knowledge to think otherwise. Although gravely injured and near death, the body was laid in a tomb were it revived. Then was whisked away in great secrecy to recover in an unknown location. Not many people would have been involved and they would be afraid for anyone to find out. Later when Jesus met with his disciples he showed them the inevitable scars which would have been the result of his injuries. In a “heavenly” resurrection the body would have been as it was before the ordeal don’t you think?
Another “miracle” the one about the disciples “speaking in tongues” is today practiced in some Christian Churches. This kind of mass hysteria is, and has been common throughout history. Keep also in mind that many stories in the old writings from bible to Egyptian and Greek mythology, are told, retold and translated many, many times with the distortions and added ideas that inevitably take place during such processes. I do think that most of these stories have a basis in real events, augmented and distorted through time or were told as allegories and parables to influence human behavior in the “tribe”. These “miracles” can be explained as being consequences of natural circumstances and not the result of “Divine” interference.
There are still faith healers practicing to day. The power of suggestion is very strong. People, on crutches or in a wheelchair who can hardly walk because of excruciating pain can because of the powerful suggestion overcome the pain and walk. It is a similar phenomenon as a placebo, a sugar pill, given by doctors sometime and having a positive effect. Modern research has shown that the brain actually start producing chemicals which do have a strong pain killing effect and that the belief in the “cure” can actually trigger the production of these chemicals. (See Suzuki’s “Nature of things” at www.cbc.ca/natureofhtings/…/brain-magic-the-power-of-the-placebo ).
Lets us examine the story of Jesus resurrection, presuming that the story is essential correct and did actually happen. The Romans used crucifixion very frequently. The person was either tied or nailed to a cross and left to die. Bodies were not taken down but left to rot for everyone to see as a reminder and deterrent. Jesus body was taken down instead. It might have looked dead since the “witnesses” did not have the knowledge to think otherwise. Although gravely injured and near death, the body was laid in a tomb were it revived. Then was whisked away in great secrecy to recover in an unknown location. Not many people would have been involved and they would be afraid for anyone to find out. Later when Jesus met with his disciples he showed them the inevitable scars which would have been the result of his injuries. In a “heavenly” resurrection the body would have been as it was before the ordeal don’t you think?
Another “miracle” the one about the disciples “speaking in tongues” is today practiced in some Christian Churches. This kind of mass hysteria is, and has been common throughout history. Keep also in mind that many stories in the old writings from bible to Egyptian and Greek mythology, are told, retold and translated many, many times with the distortions and added ideas that inevitably take place during such processes. I do think that most of these stories have a basis in real events, augmented and distorted through time or were told as allegories and parables to influence human behavior in the “tribe”. These “miracles” can be explained as being consequences of natural circumstances and not the result of “Divine” interference.
There are still faith healers practicing to day. The power of suggestion is very strong. People, on crutches or in a wheelchair who can hardly walk because of excruciating pain can because of the powerful suggestion overcome the pain and walk. It is a similar phenomenon as a placebo, a sugar pill, given by doctors sometime and having a positive effect. Modern research has shown that the brain actually start producing chemicals which do have a strong pain killing effect and that the belief in the “cure” can actually trigger the production of these chemicals. (See Suzuki’s “Nature of things” at www.cbc.ca/natureofhtings/…/brain-magic-the-power-of-the-placebo ).