A Miracle Producing Mechanism
Robert A. Herrmann Ph.D.
Many years ago, I published the article in the ASA journal "The
rationality of metaphysical evidence" 34(1)(1982): 17-23, where I
discussed how the "G-model" could rationality model various
metaphysical Christian concepts. However, it did not include
anything about the General Grand Unification model (GGU-model) and a
specific application of this model to Biblically described
or otherwise accepted miracles. This has now all changed.
I never present GGU-model theological interpretations unless
they are based upon mathematical reasoning. I have placed a
version of a paper on the mathematics achieves that is applied to the following interpretation. (see
http://www.arxiv.org/abs/math/0412562. The results in this paper
have many different applications, not just the one I discuss here.)
Recall, that one basis for the GGU-model are various standard and
nonstandard consequence operators. The intelligent design signature
associated with each such operator yields the General Intelligent Design (GID)-model. The ultralogics employed in Theorem 1 and 2 are always considered as representative for "logic-systems." Although it was unnecessary to consider the general logic-system processes that lead from the nonstandard logic-systems to the corresponding ultralogics, it is not difficult to express these informal processes formally and consider how they are applied in the nonstandard world.The mixed logic-system can be interpreted as an interface between the preterphysical (i.e. ultranatural) world and a physical universe. Further, it can also be considered as a interface between yet a higher level "supernatural" world as well, a world of which almost nothing can be known using human modes of comprehension.
Although what constitutes the notion of a miracle is probably not strictly definable so as to encompass all such events, it is certainly an alteration in the behavior of a physical-system that is "usually" physical in character and that is not predictable by known and accepted physical laws or verified scientific theories. Application of Theorem 1 is one way that such alterations can occur.
This interface via a mixed logic-system rationally takes ultranatural specific information and yields
natural world specific information. This mixed logic-system needs only to consist of one (a_k,lambda_k,b_k). The a_k is an appropriate member of an event sequence, lambda_k is a type of (unknowable) Divine command, and b_k is the corresponding member of a different event sequence. Such an alteration cannot occur without the use of the lambda_k. This can be interpreted as God
directly influencing the selection of a specific event sequence for a very specific purpose. The selected event sequence corresponds to information produced by this special logic-system. Significantly, the "consequence operator" that corresponds to this mixed logic-system is a pure nonstandard consequence operator and its intelligent design
signature is always interpreted theologically as that of a "higher
intelligence."
The GGU-model when "completely" interpreted
theologically implies that every entity within our universe is
produced, designed, and continually being controlled by a higher intelligence. From the required pre-design
viewpoint, there exist non-realized event sequences that contain
every possible categorized miracle. In the book "Science Declares Our Universe IS Intelligently Designed," I discuss a process
that allows for the automatic selection of appropriate event
sequences, due to the required participator alterations, which are
then realized at each appropriate moment of primitive time. From the
theological point of view, realization requires a divine input. If
God did not continue to directly make this divine input, then the physical
universe would not exist. (Remember that this is the maximum
theological interpretation. Associating this realization with a
divine requirement is not necessary in the secular interpretation.
Further, you have partial theological interpretations.)
In order to complete the discussed process, clearly, the additional notion of intelligent choice is required. Are there some special requirements - rules - that must be met in order to initiate a true God influenced miracle event? All that can be know using a GGU-model theological interpretation is that there may be such rules that guide such occurrences and Divine selection, but, except as Scripturally directed, we can have no additional knowledge as to the content of these rules.
This mixed logic-system approach serves another purpose. As mentioned, this approach
yields a more
direct selection of an appropriate event sequence. It overrides the
automatic process. It can be interpreted as meaning that God has, in
a more personal manner, stepped in and has directly made the
selection via this mechanism. This appears to establish formally that acknowledged
miracles, especially as described in the Scriptures, are
intelligently designed by a higher intelligence via GID. Of course, no such conclusion can be
established using the theory of restricted design (Dembski-Behe).
Since this is simply a change in the form of selection,
if you do not have some other source of information, such as the
Bible, Holy Ghost verification or maybe the "surprise" notion, then such a
selection need not be categorized as yielding a miracle. As noted above, maybe
this is why such events are so difficult, if not impossible, to
define via a purely secular physics-like definition. I, for one,
will never attempt to make such a complete "secular" definition. I however
"know one when I see or feel one."