"Perhaps a third possibility, however improbable, also exists . . .
That God, while deploring the Marianolatry, has such fierce compassion on those seeking His help . . . that He grants such.
Personally, I'm more inclined to think that some demonic involvement is at least quite plausible."
This is a very good post, thank you.
It's good for a number of reasons.
First, you implicitly acknowledge that something remarkable does go on at Lourdes. That's true. There's a scientific committee there to study it, and the dossiers every year are thick with real healings. So, you're operating from facts and trying to fit the facts into a theological pattern. This is good. Pretending something doesn't exist which does exist is bad. And you didn't do that.
Second, you presented an option which is possible. You don't like the option, but you know with God all things are possible, so you say that it is possible. This is good too, against because it is theologically true.
Third, you present your favored view, which fits your theology. This is the point of your post, and you do it without impugning my motives for having asked the question or doing an end-zone dance.
Fourth, you acknowledge that you really don't KNOW for sure, and therefore you DON'T take a strict, certain, and possibly erroneous stand.
I appreciate this sort of response.
YOu are quite welcome and I greatly appreciate your response.
I have the biase/perspective/construction on reality
that all Believers ought to be at least somewhat charitable about things which Scripture seems ambiguous about.
God was/is well able to be super precise. Witness the AUTHENTIC Bible Codes. Every letter had to be in a precise position.
But on some things--He clearly left ambiguity. And, it may be some sort of test about our unity of spirit with all who call Jesus Lord and Savior. Unity of thought and mind/perspective/bias is probably not very realistic given human individualities--even within supposed homogeneous groups of believers and even subgroups. h
But we can have unity of spirit toward God's superordinate priorities. And that I seek.
Blessings of God Almighty to you and yours.