From Greg Williams (920508)
Joel Judd (920508)
As a point of accuracy and not of argument (and because the sentiment is
not uncommon), miracles and such were never intended to convince
non-believers or force those who don't believe to "see the light."
With regard to accuracy (not argument), I suggest that you read JESUS THE
MAGICIAN by New Testament scholar Morton Smith, then see whether (at least in
the particular case of Jesus' relations with those he encountered) you still
have the same view on this. I can agree with you about what current Christian
theologians CLAIM as the utility of miracles (for believers only), but I think
they have distorted the historical evidence to support that claim. Smith
doesn't have such an ax to grind, and, based upon quite ample documentation,
concludes that Jesus employed common conjuring tricks of his time to convince
nonbelievers of his miraculous powers. That does NOT mean that his trickery
necessarily compromised his message!
Greg