A Recent Attempt to Disprove the Resurrection of Jesus and Supernatural Beliefs

Abstract

The Miracle Myth1 by the University of Wisconsin philosopher Larry Shapiro addresses Jesus’ resurrection and supernatural beliefs in the context of the miracles question. This Review Article outlines briefly Shapiro’s argument, including some critical responses. Shapiro begins with a 2010 American Pew Forum survey on miracles and the afterlife, where 79 per cent of respondents either ‘completely’ or ‘mostly’ agreed that miracles occur today, with about the same per cent accepting an afterlife (pp. ix–x). Are these views based on faith alone, or are there reasons here? Shapiro states his goal: ‘to convince you that no one has ever had or currently has good reasons for believing in miracles’ (p. xiv). The first of seven chapters and two appendices is entitled ‘Justified and Unjustified Belief’ (pp. 1–16), addressing philosophical grounds for faith. Chapter 2 is crucially concerned chiefly with defining and conceptualizing the nature of miracles. For Shapiro (pp. 18–19, 25), such a definition begins with the requirement of supernatural causal forces, typically of a divine nature. Though distinctions between supernatural causes and divine intervention might be made, these ideas are usually conjoined (pp. 26, 47, 152).