Christianity Quote by C.S. Lewis
““For this reason, the question whether miracles occur can never be answered simply by experience. Every event which might claim to be a miracle is, in the last resort, something presented to our senses, something seen, heard, touched, smelled or tasted. And our senses are not infallible. If anything extraordinary seems to have happened, we can always say that we have been the victims of an illusion. If we hold a philosophy which excludes the supernatural, this is what we always shall say. What we learn from experience depends on the kind of philosophy we bring to experience. It is therefore useless to appeal to experience before we have settled, as well as we can, the philosophical question.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Problem of Pain, 1940
Miracles cannot be proven by sensory evidence alone; philosophical stance shapes interpretation of extraordinary events.
In simple terms: Experience alone can’t confirm miracles.
Key Takeaway
Examine your philosophical assumptions.
Themes
faith
philosophy
epistemology
miracles
skepticism
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific inquiry
- religious experience
- ethical dilemmas
- personal belief formation
Key Concepts
empiricism
metaphysics
belief systems
Questions to Reflect On
- What philosophical lens do you apply to unusual events?
- Can experience be trusted without prior belief?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on senses may ignore deeper meanings.
