The argument from miracles is an interest of mine. In fact, right next to the contingency argument, I think it is the strongest argument for theism. That being said, I ran across a debate at the Bible and Beer Consortium with Timothy McGrew & atheist scientist Zach Moore. This topic is McGrew's specialty, he even wrote the SEP essay on the issue. So, it went about as well for Zach as you can expect. I'll make a few comments on his opening statement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueq47CEqNFw&t=426s
A philosophical authority informed me that there was no possible world in which I would win this debate to night
Don't worry, Zach, that isn't just you. Everyone would face the same fate against either of the McGrew's!
1: He brings a wafer that is used at mass, but that in of itself is not the miracle. But that isn't the claimed miracle, it's when the wafer transubstantiates (to use the Roman Catholic view as a foil) that the miracle occurs.
2: It doesn't matter who "stamps" miracles, & they aren't confined to apparitions.
The consumption miracle of Nambi Ambar, the anthropomorphism of Dnyaneshwar and the travel of Muhammad
I have not researched the miracle specifically, but when are naturalists going to learn that miracles are only an issue for their naturalism? Other religions and their leaders performing miracles is actually predicted on Biblical theism. As I have said elsewhere, the Bible is full of miracles from non-Christians.
Honi the Circle drawer and the control of nature
1: Our sources on Honi are sketchy at best, unlike what we have for Jesus.
2: Pharaoh's magicians "control" nature as well. So what?
Sai Baba
Been there, done that: https://thinkchristiantheism.blogspot.com/2020/10/babble-about-baba.html
There are people being raised to life in Christianity
1: They aren't 'resurrected', rather, they are resuscitated
2: Hallelujah!
They are all conforming to the same patterns...similar things are happening over and over
But this is only from the very select few that Moore decided to present. He left out diverse miracles
bedside visitations: https://epistleofdude.wordpress.com/2018/10/14/bedside-visitations/ and http://rockingwithhawking.blogspot.com/2016/11/mystery-lady.html
How about an overdose that should have resulted in death, but immediately went the opposite direction after prayer: https://anchorednorth.org/the-overdose-that-didnt-kill-me/
All religions are playing with the same currency
1: Again, how does Moore, a naturalist, deal with miracles?
2: I won't speak for other religions, but nothing about Christianity excludes other religions from performing miracles.
What standard do we use to decide which miracles we choose?
Inductively and case by case. Next.
Too many miracles
This, too, is a problem for Zach. What is the probability that all of these miracles are fraudulent or mistaken? If only one is genuine, his naturalism is toast. Plus, he can assume generic theism all he wants, but miracles of all kinds are expected on Christian theism.
The vast majority of miracles we would consider to be false
Who would? In fact, I would go the opposite direction. I'd also add Moore gave no reason to think these miracles are false, except for the tendentious assertion that they follow a pattern (which he didn't present the counter evidence for, coincidentally).
Miracles represent a tiny fraction of our experience of the world
1: Plenty of events operate on this level. How many times in your life have you heard of someone getting a royal flush in Las Vegas?
2: Keener has shown that quite a number of people have experienced, quite a lot more than Zach has opined. Even then, Keener didn't present all the examples!
Hidden miracles
This was ironic in that this was only an argument against naturalism. Thanks, Zach!
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