A February episode of NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” reported that a survey from the Pew Forum on Religion showed that a vast majority of Americans, nearly 80%, believe in miracles. The results are from a wider study, “Religion Among the Millennials.” What is, in your opinion, the definition of a miracle? What does your religion teach about miracles? And have you ever been witness to one?
Graham Bothwell: In the context of this week’s question, the word “miracle” brings to mind divine intervention, or other phenomena not explainable by nature. Such is the typical interpretation of the great works of Christ Jesus, his disciples, and the Old Testament prophets. Today it is common to regard these acts as peculiar to that era; but there is ample evidence otherwise.
Mary Baker Eddy was a deeply religious individual who loved the Bible and healed others from an early age. She devoted many years of her life to learning from the scriptures about how healing was done, so that it could be taught to others. She called her spiritual healing discoveries Christian Science, and documented them in her book, “Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures,” first published in 1875. The last 100 pages consist of testimonials from people healed purely through reading the book, including the healing of rheumatism, bronchitis, broken bones, tuberculosis, poor eyesight and business problems, to mention just a few.
