The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-20
POPULAR APoLoGETlcs.
Adapted From the German of Rev.
Peter Mikes, S. j., by Rev.
James Watcher.
%. Josue's Miracle.


Z ~
%. Josue's Miracle.
Objection: If the sun had to stand
still over the victory of Josue, the ro-
tation of the earth had to cease. John
Tyndall Ct 1922, professor of physics
in London, writes: THE energy here
by to be considered is six trillion
horsepowers, which worked during all
that time that Josue annihilated his
enemies. The energy used here would
have been sufficient to invest every
individual of a thousandfold stronger
army than Josue's with the thousand
fold strength of those warriors, and
that not only for few hours, but for
millions of years." What waste of
energy! Evidently the holy writer
had not an inkling of this; but the
man of science sees this Immediately
and rejects the miracle. (Cf Pesch,
Weltraetsel World Riddles - Sd
Germ. ed. II, p. 402).
Answer: The miracle of Josue can
be explained by us far more simply. 1t
was sufficient if God produced phe-
nomenon of light (ether vibrations)
in that country, which otherwise are
produced by the sun.
Moreover, the objection of Tyndall
rests on the false assumption that
God would have to go to lot of
trouble to create such a force of six
trillion hOrsepowers. But the fact is
that God creates without effort the
greatest as we'll as the smallest. Be
fore the infinite God the whole uni
verse is like a drop in the ocean.
How little, then, is before Him the
rotation of speck which we call the
earth?. Tyndall's objection would
have some sense if he wanted to say
that this waste of energy was against
the wisdom of God. But this difficulty
is solved by the above simple expla-
nation.
20. Before My Eyes.
Objections: If God would restore a
leg to a man whose limb has been
amputated, l will believe; otherwise
not
Answer: In your frame of mind you
would not become believing, but with
Rousseau would rather become in
sane than believing"
The Jews challenged Christ: DE
scend from the cross and we will be-
Ieve.' When the far greater miracle
of the Resurrection took place a few
days later they did not believe, in
spite of the most evident proofs, and
tried to explain it by absurd lies. 1t
is the old story: IF they hear not
Moses and the Prophets, neither will
they believe if one rise again from
the dead" duke XVI, 81
2. God can certainly by His al
mighty power restore wanting limb
without any effort, as He restored
sight to the man born blind. But
in His wisdom He cannot be COM
manded to work miracles according
to the whim of every one, just as
Christ refused to satisfy the curios-
ity of Herod to see a miracle. Some
of the scribes and Pharisees an
swered Him, saying: Master, we
would see a sign from Thee. Who,
answering, said to them: An evil and
adulterous generation seeketh sign:
and sign shall not be given it, but
the sign of Jonas the prophet (the
Resurrection (Math. XII, SO, 39).
80. And Still.
Objections: You may tell me what
you want, l do still not believe in
miracles. No, leave me in peace with
your miracles. 1 will on no condi
ton believe in them.
Answer: With these words you well
define the standpoint of many of our
inf1dels: they do not believe in mir
want to. Stat pro ratione voluntas
The will stands for reasons.
Since logic stops here, our dispute
ceases. But / want to thank you al
the same for the clear proof you give
me of the freedom of mans will (Cf
No. so if. of first series.)
Prof. Zeller & 1909, liberal phil
osopher and theologian, writes: "Tht
reality of such (wonderfuD occur
renee we can not believe even if i
be ever so well attested" (Vortraegt
und ndlungen-Lectures anC
TreatisesAp. 1922 Here the BerliI
philosopher stands yet on the oil
standpoint of the astronomer Libri o
Pisa and other opponents of Galile'
Che first used the telescope in 1909 TO
astronomical purposes), who did no
want to look through a telescope, be
cause they knew a priori beforehand
that the planet Jupiter could have n
moons. And still now we know tina
Jupiter has eight moons, and perhap
even more.
In similar way many moder
philosopher knows" priori tina
miracles are impossible, and still Their
have been many in the past and som
happen right along. There is no ma
so blind as the one who does not wis
to see.