Functional Integrity & Miracles

Dennis L. Durst (dldurst@prairienet.org)
Wed, 9 Oct 1996 14:20:29 -0500 (CDT)

These comments & questions are primarily directed to proponents of
the "functional integrity" argument against special acts (plural)
of creation.

As I understand the argument, miraculous acts of creation (after
the "initial creation event" or "big bang singularity") ought to
be ruled out not merely on methodological grounds, but on
theological grounds; namely that such acts imply imperfection or
insufficiency in the initial creative act of God.

At the same time, from within a Christian perspective, other
sorts of miracles are allowed: certain OT miracles, the virginal
conception of Christ, His miracles while on earth, the resurrection,
and certain apostolic miracles.

My question is this: Why do _these_ miracles not also violate
the functional integrity priciple? Surely God could have
so orchestrated the initial creation that these "miracles" merely
arose as a matter of course. Why do they receive special treatment
--or do they?

Dennis Durst