Saturday, February 13, 2010

How do you feel about the concept of miracles?

How do you feel about the concept of miracles?

A person could bet 100,000 dollars at 12 to one odds and turn that into 1,200,000 and if the person continued to bet it all every time at 12 to one before they did it twelve times they would have a net-worth larger than the richest man living today. As fast as a casino works this feat could be done in less than an hour (not counting for the switching of dealers etc.) Someone might call that a “miracle” but there is math that it is “possible”. I know that it has never happened but I do know it is possible. I do believe in miracles and have a definition for it I would like your thoughts:


1-How do you define miracle?

2-What do you think of the mathematical likelihood of a miracle is?

3-Have you experienced a miracle that few others have experienced that you are willing to share?

4-Are miracles better off not being considered because they are not going to happen often enough to be relevant in most lives anyways?



Extra reading bellow:

My definition of miracle:
My theory is referred to as the box car – box car theory- If you look at a dice if you put two of them next to each other they kind of look like box cars – then add the number of times as twelve and you come up with 12X12. I start to consider things beyond those odds as being potential miracles.

Think about roulette and the 30 times odds and how fast that can work. One of the key traits for a gambler in gamblers anonymous I have read about is that it is common for a person in a gamblers anonymous to have experienced a gambling incident where they made more than a years income in less than a day. Could people that are too connected with seeking out miracles capable of becoming “miracle” addicts and looking for miracles to “bail” them out?

I have also heard things like the observer effect – by someone tracking something that it changes its behavior – So since I am sharing this wonderful idea of how to beat the billionaires should I share in the profits and you the commenters here… do you feel that by “creating and observer effect” you are also entitled to a share of the person that does beat out a billionaire with a gambling “miracle”? Did we just create a miracle?

29 comments:

  1. A miracle cannot be a feat that is explained by mathmatical odds. It has to be something that could not have occurred naturally. And even at that many miracles have been explained and even recreated. That is not to discredit any Biblical miracles, but the naysayers and disprovers would almost had to have been there to see for themselves that the miracles were real. I am skeptical when it comes to many modern reported miracles.

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  2. I believe Yes miracles happen. I do not want miracles to happen for money making. I want miracles to cure an incurable disease of the sufferers.

    Sharing views with you is also a miracle of modern times. :)

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  3. I believe that miracles are events that defy mathematical probabilities and have an indication of divine intervention. These events go beyond the category of luck. Many of the things we refer to as miracles today aren't anything more than luck.

    I see luck as having an impact on those associated with the event, such as winning the lottery. A miracle has a broader spectrum and serves the good of the whole. Such as life on Earth. The fact that our planet is even habitable defies mathematical probability. The combination of all the needed elements coming together at a precise time and temperature suggests divine intervention.

    That's not to say that I don't believe in more personal miracles. I became pregnant 8 months before my father attempted suicide & ended up permanently disabled. I had been told I would have a hard time becoming pregnant, the timing of everything seemed to be a miracle as I delivered a healthy baby boy 3 days later & 1 month early. My son was the hope and life that we needed to help us through that very difficult time.

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  4. Miracles defy all odds and give hope to people because they are forced to look at what the eyes can not see yet instead believing in a statistic alone.

    If it weren't for miracles humanity and true kindness would cease to exist.

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  5. I do believe in miracles, but I don't think they happen as often as people profess and they are most certainly subject to interpretation. Case in point: a church once stained a door, only to discover a very clear view of Jesus in the wood grain. People came from all over to witness this "miracle," which had actually been in the wood and on display all this time.

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  6. Unexplainable events are miracles. All the rest is luck, that's what I think.

    Secretia

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  7. My opinion of a miracle is anything that God does or has done. Everything is a miracle. If you think about it this way than miracles can't be discounted because they are happening all the time and the only thing that needs to change is your idea of what a miracle is. Miracles happen all the time and we need to be aware of them when they are happening.

    http://www.jeffthesalesguy.com

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  8. The miracle in my life was just to get my 9 year old daughter home from the hospital so she could pass peacefully at home. The doctors told us she might not survive the ambulance ride home, but she did. That was a miracle! http://www.youtube.com/user/shavertz1

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  9. I believe in miracles not to would be living without hope. One must have hope for the world to be at peace, That the disaster in Haiti will have a good outcome however long it takes.
    A very interesting topic nno doubt with many answers.

    Yvonne.

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  10. I believe in miracles but I think by definition they are a bit mysterious.

    Purdie Pyrate

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  11. I would define a miracle as something that happens unexpectedly at just the moment when it was needed. I do believe in miracles. Our lives are filled with those special moments, only if we care to watch for them. They do happen!

    Nevine

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  12. I think cynicism can make it almost impossible to see and experience miracles. Unfortunately. I do believe in the Jungian idea of synchronicity, similar to miracles.

    I know that in my own life, that when I am on my right path, that the miracles start to occur and multiply.

    I do think it defies rationality but then again, I am an artist not a scientist (but I am married to a scientist!)

    Thanks for the question!
    love,
    Erika

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  13. Interesting...

    1-How do you define miracle?

    Some type of experience that cannot be defined by science or nature.

    2-What do you think of the mathematical likelihood of a miracle is?

    None, there is no way to predict a miracle.

    4-Are miracles better off not being considered because they are not going to happen often enough to be relevant in most lives anyways?

    Miracles are fine as long as you don't put stick in them and just accept them as they come, or don't come ;o)

    Thanks!

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  14. I believe miracles can happen, but mostly we must deal with 'reality'.

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  15. Hi Tom, here's the Shrink again. My view of miracles is quite defined and decided. Miracles are interventions into the natural from the supernatural. As a result, miracles cannot be mathematically calculated or predicted.

    Luck, chance, and coincidence are totally different concepts. There are always flukes that occur in the normal flow of life. Nature has its bell curve too. These happpening are out there in the two tails of the bell curve. Miracles cannot be placed on the bell curve because they defy any natural law and explanation.

    Most people believe that miracles can only come from God. While I believe that God is the ultimate creator of all things, He has allowed the evil one to be able to perform miracles.I'll stop at that as I don't want to get preachy.

    Good topic Tom!

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  16. Miracles for me are always the small things. The delight I feel in noticing something beautiful when my day has been stressful. The sudden surprise of awareness. It's always a miracle when something shifts in me and I can feel calm and serene.

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  17. I'll be back to tell you the instant I get my acceptance letter from the New Yorker. I mean that could happen for I did write a brilliant article only miracle now is for it to fall into the right editor's hands.
    Warm regards,
    Simone

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  18. I consider a miracle to be the effortless manifestation of an outcome that would logically appear to be unlikely or improbable, which comes about immediately upon handing the "problem" over to your Higher Power rather than struggling to make it happen yourself.

    Miracles occur every day, but we don't always recognise them. Seeing them, and indeed creating them, is all down to how we focus our energy in any given moment.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog Tom. I always enjoy my visits here : )

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  19. I sometimes feel that there are a fair amount of minor miracles. One of them is my friends and I agreeing on a place for dinner.

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  20. Miracles are events that occurr without clear explanations. They seem to happen when we need them most and when all other resources seem non-existent.

    With that said, miracles are beliefs, wishful thinking.

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  21. Einstein said that a person has the choice to believe either: everything is a miracle OR nothing is a miracle. I need to work on the former. It's all in the perspective, I believe.

    In answer to your last question, though, yes, if you win millions (or even hundreds), Tom, you should share with your followers - at least with this one.

    Cheers,
    Robyn

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  22. I'm overly optimistic, but I think of miracles as unexpected joys that happen...possibly every day. You can't expect them...they just happen. I think a lot of miracles are a matter of viewpoint...you tend ot see tham as such after the fact.

    As a researcher in a lab I fight the creating and observer effect in my research every day. It's hard to not impose your will on things...bias changes things. Not always for the better.

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  23. I think miracles happen every day...but we're just not always aware of them.

    I think creating another human being is a miracle...if you look at the amount of things that have to come together perfectly, it's a wonder we're able to reproduce!

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  24. This is a tough one. As I have read the comments of fellow followers on your site, some miracles are considered more everyday and some are rare occasions. So it appears that miracles are so subjective. In the case of the gambler it would be nice to interview them and get ideas of their frame of mind, not just before they won. I'm not too sure of mathematical calculations, as that takes luck out of the equation. Then it doesn't have the appearance of a miracle due to some way of manipulation or control. And maybe that is my answer...if control is involved it is less likely to be a miracle?

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  25. I believe that miracles happen, it makes people hopeful to know they are out there. I don't think it's often, but I would hope they would be to help someone who is sick, or who's family is in a very bad financial situation and needs a "miracle" to happen. When it comes to lottery, gambling, beating out the billionaire...I hope some of that luck brushes my way one of these days!! LOL...

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  26. Hi Tom,
    A miracle is created in your mind as a thought. It is then projected into the universe with passion and persistence.
    Kind of sounds like a miracle, Huh?
    Thanks,
    Dr. Bob Moulas

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  27. I read your post twice and I don't equate a "miracle" with mathematics or a roll of the dice. Because to me, that's another way of trial and error, you keep trying until you get it right. It also reminds me of some people's theory of evolution, you know the one where people happened with a "bang". My take on the gambling thing is like you go to the junk yard, pick up some junk put in in a washing machine, let it twist back and forth and then one day you have a rocket ship or in your case a miracle. To me, a miracle includes God. Taking a chance doesn't seem to. Very thought provoking post! I look forward to more.

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  28. I think miracles are all based on the viewer. Its the totality of what they consider a miracle. Probabilities will always be probably...

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