S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 1 1 6               21 Dec '97

                The (Im)Probability of the Incarnation
                --------------------------------------

If the [Incarnation] happened, it was the central event in the history
of the Earth -- the very thing that the whole story has been about.  Since
it happened only once, it is by Hume's standards infinitely improbable.
But then, the whole history of the Earth has also happened only once: is
it therefore incredible?  Hence the difficulty, which weighs upon
Christian and atheist alike, of estimating the probability of the
Incarnation.  It is like asking whether the existence of nature herself is
intrinsically probable.  That is why it is easier to argue, on historical
grounds, that the Incarnation actually occurred than to show, on
philosophical grounds, the probability of its occurrence.

                               "Miracles", by C. S. Lewis (d.1963)



        A very merry Christmas to all readers of Sunday Snippets.
          May the blessings of our Saviour abound in your hearts.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sunday Snippets" is the trademark of G. MacKenzie Strickland.  May be 
freely redistributed  - forward to a friend or two.  The Sunday Snippets 
archive is at homepage:   http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ab531/Profile.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you're on direct e-mail subscription, please let me know if your
computer account is going to close down soon (such as when leaving a job or 
completing a university course.)   This will avoid bounced-back e-mail.





---------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/sunday.snippets: snip97-116.txt
.