Christ Risen, Wonder Arising: A Christian Theology of Miracles

Abstract

This article argues that a theology of miracle lies at the heart of Christian faith, for Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a miraculous event that breathes transcendent purpose into human existence. With the assistance of Karl Rahner, the resurrection of Jesus is shown to unlock the spiritual dimension of nature and the human person, revealing them to be creatures of God radically open to and animated by the powerful presence of the transcendent. Nature, life, and more particularly human freedom, as self-transcending finite realities and powers are manifestations of the existence and action of God and, precisely for this reason, miracles. With the help of Jürgen Moltmann, renewed access to God is then perceived to be manageable in the midst of historical absurdity, injustice, and suffering. In the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus, the conditions for authentic history and the promise of a real future are met and made. The resurrection of Jesus is the fount of unbreakable hope that, through the empowering experience of redemption, produces genuine change. Lastly, using resources from current exegetical scholarship, theology, and philosophy of religion, an attempt is made to lay foundations for a postmodern understanding of miracle by returning to the source and norm of Christian faith: Israel's experience of renewed life in, from, and for God, related in Scripture.