Apparitions, miracles, and other super natural events outside the church?

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Struggling1

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If miracles and apparitions occur outside of our faith how do we know we are correct? I was asking someone about this and they said other religions are likely demonic apparitions or demonic miracles how do we know ours aren’t? Why does it seem as if possession is explainable away by mental illness? Why in the Old Testament was there legitimate magic being used and now the people practicing it never have any effects happen?
 
“If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” Luke 11:18-20
 
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How does this apply to the question posed? Just quoting a Bible verse requires some explanation.
 
KevinK said:
How does this apply to the question posed? Just quoting a Bible verse requires some explanation
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Struggling1 said:
I was asking someone about this and they said other religions are likely demonic apparitions or demonic miracles how do we know ours aren’t?
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Christ, Our Eternal High Priest, primarily works miracles through His Church, viz. the Communion of Saints and ministerial priests. Any ‘miracle’ outside of those means are most likely from…well, read the passage I posted. 🙂 I thought that’d be rather obvious, no?
KevinK said:
Just quoting a Bible verse requires some explanation
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Are you a CAF moderator? 🤨
 
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You are hedging your response with “primarily” and “most likely”. What of the other events in the original question?
 
Jesus holds primacy. So when we are talking about different churches or denominations, we must remember that the Spirit works in any baptized believer.
“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. Mark 9:38-41
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As for other religions who do not profess Christ, I have to claim ignorance because I am not aware of alleged miracles from other religions.

Of course, I know that other religions claim miracles in their history, such as the various mythologies of the Eastern religions. But that’s different from claims of miracles today. I will mention a few potential theories from a Catholic perspective: (1) God desires all people to know him, and so he is not limited to the strict boundaries of the Catholic Church to do this. (2) These miracles could be demonic-related. (3) These miracles could not be genuine supernatural occurrences.

But I will say that perhaps unique in this regard is the strict process that the Catholic Church has when determining the level of credibility of a miracle. There’s hardly anything else like it any other Christian tradition or religion. And considering the nature of these miracles: Eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions, miracles in relation to saints, I’d say those are pretty confirming of Catholic belief.
 
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AugustTherese said:
Are you a CAF moderator? 🤨
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This is just common sense AT.
Parroting very well known stale positions adds nothing original or intelligent to a forum discussion.
Nobody comes to a forum simply to be reminded of a set position as if that closes the matter.
 
S1 perhaps do a CAF google before posting a question.

You will usually find that you are not the first to ask the question and there is much good debate already here to read from past discussions.

This one for example gets asked about twice a year from my 7 years experience on CAF.
The latest reincarnation is here:
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Why do miracles appear in other religions? Apologetics
If God is the only God, why do miracles appear in other faiths attributed to other gods/goddesses?
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Well then people don’t need to respond. When the topic closes and it’s been a period of time I’m hoping to find new answers not the regular stale copy pastes that some users have.
 
And FYI I did but wanted to see what new opinions there were as time progresses people have new opinions. Feel free to not respond to any of my posts from this point on! Have a great day! I’m finding your responses to be nothing but negative you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. I don’t want to have any animosity between us to please avoid commenting and instead focus on the myriad of other threads!
 
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I know you are just trying to help by pointing to elaborated responses, but I think one could argue most threads on here have been re-hashed over and over again. Except maybe the “news” forums.

I’m guilty of that myself, usually asking a similar question I’ve asked a year or so ago. 😅
 
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Struggling1 said:
When the topic closes and it’s been a period of time I’m hoping to find new answers …
And FYI I did but wanted to see what new opinions there were as time progresses
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S1 the topic I referred you to only closed 2 days ago.
I strongly suggest it is unlikely anything new will be forthcoming.
That is why CAF reasonably closes discussions after 14 days of silence.

If you did read it before starting this one perhaps it would be better to discuss what was thrown up there or advise us why none of the answers were satisfactory to you?
not the regular stale copy pastes that some users have.
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There are some very novel answers in that last discussion I have never seen before.
So I really do not know what you are saying here.
…you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. I don’t want to have any animosity between us…
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I have no animosity. I in fact was making positive suggestions to help you find the answers you seek. If it is true that you have read the post that closed just two days ago which received no new responses after 14 days I believe you have your best answer already. Why not discuss why they were not acceptable to you?
I’m finding your responses to be nothing but negative
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[so] please avoid commenting.
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May I humbly suggest re your animosity sensitivity (and indeed your own “animosity” exhibited in this statement) the following good Buddhist advice I learnt much from in my younger days:
“It is easier to wear shoes than to cover the world in leather”.
 
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Well then lets progress the discussion instead of rehashing things like my elderly and slightly Alzheimer uncle who keeps getting the same books out of the local library every year or so - and enjoys them each time!

For example:
So when we say St Theresa levitated its a true miracle.
But when Buddhists say some of their holy men levitated it must be a lie or an unproven exaggeration?
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That went unaddressed.
This doesn’t seem “stale” to me.
 
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