Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Chad · 03-14-2003, 06:45 PM

The word miracle is being thrown around a lot ever since Elizabeth's rescue. It is my impression that the word is being used in a biblical sense. However, I do not think this "miracle" is in any way similar to those described in the bible. As wonderful as it is that this story has a happy ending against all odds, I do not believe the word miracle applies to a kidnapped person being found alive if she was never dead. Personally, I do not care if anyone wishes to describe her rescue as a miracle. I'm just curious as to what others think about those using the word to describe this situation. Is the use of the word a subtle attempt to promote religion or am I too cynical about the motives of those using the word?

oriecat · 03-14-2003, 06:51 PM

No, it is not a miracle.

beastmaster · 03-14-2003, 06:56 PM

A miracle means to achieve the impossible.

What happened to the Smarts is merely unlikely.

Yay, 200th post!

copernicus · 03-14-2003, 07:03 PM

Of course it's a miracle! Her kidnapper was a religious fanatic, and her family was strongly religious. Whatever happened, this whole thing was bound to be a miracle for somebody's religion. It was all about God and religion. Not surprisingly, the kidnapper is an alleged pedophile. This whole thing has religious connotations written all over it.

Porky Houton · 03-15-2003, 09:49 AM

It's a goddamn miracle that the Mormon Church won't share the blame for creating the monster of polygamy in the first place! If the Mormon leaders would come out and tell the world that their polygamous past was all Joseph Smith's HUGE MISTAKE and that they no longer believe in the practice EVEN IN THEORY, then maybe situations like what the Smarts went through won't happen again.

When Elizabeth disappeared I told several people that the police needed to search all known polygamist because that was where they would find the child. What is really a miracle is that the keystone cops that were running the show didn't find her in the first 48 hours. Now if the poor child can get away from the brainwashing that the Mormon Church has in store for her...

notMichaelJackson · 03-15-2003, 09:56 AM

It is certainly a miracle, whether divinely caused or just because the kidnappers chose not to physically harm her.

JCS · 03-15-2003, 10:36 AM

Thank god she was found, wait a minute, where was god when she was taken.

Joyous · 03-15-2003, 11:09 AM

Define "miracle." I think the meaning of the word is changing, and growing more loose. Anything unlikely may be called a "miracle" by someone. When I heard that she'd been found alive, I may have even used the word, and you can be sure I didn't mean that the hand of god nudged her back to her family.

CALDONIA · 03-15-2003, 01:14 PM

Is it a "miracle" that Elizabeth Smart was found? What if her being kidnapped was part of God's Plan?

Arvel Joffi · 03-15-2003, 01:57 PM

Hard work and observant, caring people found Elizabeth. It's just like the miners in Pennsylvania last year. Everybody started calling their resuce a mircale despite the fact (<---important word) that hundreds of people worked around the clock to get them out.

Hell, if anything, it's a miracle that people still believe in frickin miracles!

03-14-2003, 06:45 PM	#1
Chad Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 110	Is Elizabeth Smart's return a miracle? The word miracle is being thrown around a lot ever since Elizabeth's rescue. It is my impression that the word is being used in a biblical sense. However, I do not think this "miracle" is in any way similar to those described in the bible. As wonderful as it is that this story has a happy ending against all odds, I do not believe the word miracle applies to a kidnapped person being found alive if she was never dead. Personally, I do not care if anyone wishes to describe her rescue as a miracle. I'm just curious as to what others think about those using the word to describe this situation. Is the use of the word a subtle attempt to promote religion or am I too cynical about the motives of those using the word?

03-15-2003, 09:49 AM	#5
Porky Houton Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mississippi (The People's Republic of Falwell) Posts: 158	Yeah, it's a miracle.... It's a goddamn miracle that the Mormon Church won't share the blame for creating the monster of polygamy in the first place! If the Mormon leaders would come out and tell the world that their polygamous past was all Joseph Smith's HUGE MISTAKE and that they no longer believe in the practice EVEN IN THEORY, then maybe situations like what the Smarts went through won't happen again. When Elizabeth disappeared I told several people that the police needed to search all known polygamist because that was where they would find the child. What is really a miracle is that the keystone cops that were running the show didn't find her in the first 48 hours. Now if the poor child can get away from the brainwashing that the Mormon Church has in store for her...

03-15-2003, 01:57 PM	#10
Arvel Joffi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,359	Miracle smhiracle Hard work and observant, caring people found Elizabeth. It's just like the miners in Pennsylvania last year. Everybody started calling their resuce a mircale despite the fact (<---important word) that hundreds of people worked around the clock to get them out. Hell, if anything, it's a miracle that people still believe in frickin miracles!

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03-14-2003, 06:51 PM	#2
oriecat Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Portland OR USA Posts: 1,098	No, it is not a miracle.

03-14-2003, 06:56 PM	#3
beastmaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Madrid / I am a: Lifelong atheist Posts: 885	A miracle means to achieve the impossible. What happened to the Smarts is merely unlikely. Yay, 200th post!

03-14-2003, 07:03 PM	#4
copernicus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 1,531	Of course it's a miracle! Her kidnapper was a religious fanatic, and her family was strongly religious. Whatever happened, this whole thing was bound to be a miracle for somebody's religion. It was all about God and religion. Not surprisingly, the kidnapper is an alleged pedophile. This whole thing has religious connotations written all over it.

03-15-2003, 09:56 AM	#6
notMichaelJackson Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: IL Posts: 552	It is certainly a miracle, whether divinely caused or just because the kidnappers chose not to physically harm her.

03-15-2003, 10:36 AM	#7
JCS Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: right over there Posts: 753	Thank god she was found, wait a minute, where was god when she was taken.

03-15-2003, 11:09 AM	#8
Joyous Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Dallas Posts: 417	Define "miracle." I think the meaning of the word is changing, and growing more loose. Anything unlikely may be called a "miracle" by someone. When I heard that she'd been found alive, I may have even used the word, and you can be sure I didn't mean that the hand of god nudged her back to her family.

03-15-2003, 01:14 PM	#9
CALDONIA Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sunnyvale,CA Posts: 371	Is it a "miracle" that Elizabeth Smart was found? What if her being kidnapped was part of God's Plan?

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