Chapter 15 Self Quiz

. Historians can never demonstrate that a miracle probably happened.

True

False

. Ancient people didn't understand that nature works according to fixed patterns.

True

False

. Most ancient people believed in the possibility of miracles.

True

False

. Even if you assume that miracles are possible, there is still no way to:

Argue for that possibility in the present

Accept them at an intellectual level

Accept them at a gut level

Show that they have ever happened

. People in Greco-Roman times were more likely to view the deeds of Jesus as ________ than as miraculous.

ordinary

spectacular

demonic

underwhelming

. What might the first question on people's minds have been as they observed Jesus' miracles?

What is the source of his power?

How can I do that too?

Am I hallucinating?

How are these laws of nature being broken?

. How probable is it that any single ordinary, natural event occurs?

100 percent

Highly probable

Improbable

Impossible

. What is the dilemma historians face when they write about past miracles?

On the one hand, they can only establish what probably happened; on the other hand, miracles by definition defy all probability.

On the one hand, they can establish evidence for miracles (even if only circumstantial); on the other hand, this evidence defies belief.

On the one hand, they can only establish what has not happened in the past; on the other hand, they must establish what did happen.

On the one hand, they can only establish what has actually happened; on the other hand, they can't do this for miracles because miracles never actually happened.

. When writing about an alleged miracle that Jesus did, what can a historian not claim?

That he actually did it

Who the eyewitnesses were

What the eyewitnesses claimed to see

What can be known about the circumstances

. Our most advanced science informs us that miracles:

Do not happen

Are not knowable via the scientific method

Are, in fact, possible

Are really holographic projections of the mind

. How can historians certify that an event occurred, but outside the natural order?

They would have to get outside the natural order for the proper perspective. Since historians have this ability, they can certify miraculous claims.

They can't.

They can use qualified authorities to certify miraculous claims.

They can use Gospel accounts as authoritative sources.

. From a historian's perspective, those who are willing to believe that Jesus did miracles must concede that:

He is God.

His power was demonically derived.

Other people did them as well.

Other people cannot do them.

. If historians firmly believe in miracles, they have a professional responsibility to:

Speak and write about it in all their works, so as not to be hypocritical

Keep silent about it

Speak and write about it in their capacity as believers, but not in their capacity as impartial historians

Slant the wording of the historical facts in order to convert as many as possible to their belief

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