Top Ten Scientific Explantions of Miracle of Sun at Fatima (Catholic Caucus)

Creative Minority Report ^ | 10/14/2009 | Matthew Archbold

[markomalley]

The Miracle of the Dancing Sun at Fatima which was seen by 70,000 people on October 13th, 1917 has been written about often. But many people continually attempt to explain away the vision of the sun dancing in the sky at a foretold time.

Avelino de Almeida, wrote articles for O Século, Portugal's most widely-circulated and influential newspaper, which was pro-government and anti-clerical at the time. Almeida's previous articles had been to satirize the previously reported events at Fatima but here's what he wrote that day:

"Before the astonished eyes of the crowd, whose aspect was biblical as they stood bare-headed, eagerly searching the sky, the sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements outside all cosmic laws — the sun 'danced' according to the typical expression of the people."

But secularists have amassed an enormous amount of explanations as to why we should not believe our own eyes. Here are the astounding reasons they've amassed so we should believe nothing at all special happened in Portugal that great day.

1. Stratospheric Dust. Steuart Campbell, writing for the 1989 edition of Journal of Meteorology, postulated that a cloud of stratospheric dust changed the appearance of the sun on 13 October, making it easy to look at, and causing it to appear yellow, blue, and violet and to spin. In support of his hypothesis, Mr. Campbell reports that a blue and reddened sun was reported in China as documented in 1983.

2. ESP! (Always my favorite) Author Lisa Schwebel claims that the event was a supernatural (but non-miraculous) extra-sensory phenomenon. Schwebel notes that the solar phenomenon reported at Fátima is not unique - there have been several reported cases of high pitched religious gatherings culminating in the sudden and mysterious appearance of lights in the sky.

3. Mock-Sun. Didn't even know this existed but it's worth a listen. Joe Nickell, a skeptic and investigator of paranormal phenomena, claims that the position of the phenomenon, as described by the various witnesses, is at the wrong azimuth and elevation to have been the sun. He suggests the cause may have been a sundog. Sometimes referred to as a parhelion or "mock sun", a sundog is an atmospheric optical phenomenon associated with the reflection/refraction of sunlight by the numerous small ice crystals that make up cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. A sundog is, however, a stationary phenomenon, and would not explain the reported appearance of the "dancing sun". So Nickell further suggests an explanation for this phenomena may lie in temporary retinal distortion, caused by staring at the intense light and/or the effect of darting the eyes to and fro so as to avoid completely fixed gazing (thus combining image, afterimage and movement). So the people shook their heads and though a mock-sun was dancing. All 70,000? Prety ridiculous, huh?

4. Dust cloud! Paul Simons, in an article entitled "Weather Secrets of Miracle at Fatima", states that he believes it possible that some of the optical effects at Fatima may have been caused by a cloud of dust from the Sahara.

5. Ye ol mass hallucination theory. Author Kevin McClure claims that the crowd at Cova da Iria may have been expecting to see signs in the sun, as similar phenomena had been reported in the weeks leading up to the miracle. On this basis he believes that the crowd saw what it wanted to see. (Yeah because that happens all the time.) But McClure's account fails to explain similar reports of people miles away, who by their own testimony were not even thinking of the event at the time, or the sudden drying of people's sodden, rain-soaked clothes.

6. UFO! It has been argued that the Fatima phenomenon was an alien craft. Of course, either that craft happened to come on the day that the three little children said a miracle would occur. Or the apparitions were all the works of little green men. This all sounds a lot more real than the Church's explanation.

7. Solar Storm. A gigantic coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred. Every eleven years our sun goes through a period of solar storms and these storms have been with us for
centuries of recorded history. Solar flares emit high-speed particles that
cause the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Well that explains it all right there. Because we all know the Northern Lights look exactly like the Sun dancing. Or not.

8. Peer pressure. Among a uniform people sharing a particular religious belief, it is very easy for individuals to feel social pressure to conform to whatever is seen as a part of "how things should be", for "true believers". 70,000 people. That's pretty strong peer pressure especially for the people who saw it 20 miles away.

9. Not everyone saw it. Astronomers noticed no dancing in the sky from all over the world. The dancing sun was a regional event thus disproving it. A quick question would be the fact that it was a regional event should prove that something out of the ordinary happened. If it happened worldwide it would be written off as simply an astronomical event because the whole world saw it.

10. An Eclipse. These fellas don't mind contradicting themselves. This would be a very very regional eclipse. Wouldn't astronomers have noted the eclipse?

Bonus Reason:
11. Evolution. This is sadly from Institute of Physics, Catholic Univeristy of Louvain. Evolution has provided us with the infamous “zoom and loom effect”. It tends to appear when the brain is confronted with the two-dimensional retinal image of an object thatis situated at some unknown distance. The brain will then consider the possibility that it could come closer, by performing an illusory mental zoom, where the apparent size of the object isprogressively increased. This results from the fact that evolution preserved the tendency to take into account the possibility of a dangerous approach: a rapid evasive action could bebeneficial for survival. When the “idea” of an approach does not lead to any real danger, the perceived object returns to its normal place. Thus the dancing sun. Amazing. 70,000 people thought the Sun was a predator coming to eat them. When they realized the Sun had no teeth they "zoomed and loomed" it back to where it belonged. That might just be my favorite one.

So after listening to these level-headed scientists(?) explain away Fatima hasn't it convinced you to join the Richard Dawkins fan club? Me neither.

[Lorica]

Ye ol mass hallucination theory.

This is the one I've heard the most.

[ZULU]

They omitted the 12th possibility - She WAS there and it WAS a miracle. It WAS.

[RJR_fan]

Ah, but was it “she?” or one who will masquerade as an angel of light?

[markomalley]

I think that was the point of the entire article...

[Dr. Sivana]

Okay, NOW explain how the ankle deep mud disappeared from everyone who was there.

[PatriotGirl827]

I love everything about Fatima. I have a doctor who converted after reading about the miracle of the sun at Fatima. He is a very devout Catholic.

[G Larry]

Just wait until they start theorizing about that intense, eternal heat.......

[Northern Yankee]

I just finished reading the Fatima miracle to my CCD class of 8th grade class tonight.

They would scoff at such explanations.

[steve86]

Just wait until they start theorizing about that intense, eternal heat.......

Ah, it's just a mirage. Nothing to worry about.

[Northern Yankee]

I just finished reading the Fatima miracle to my CCD class of 8th grade students tonight.

Better!

[Lorica]

I just finished reading the Fatima miracle to my CCD class of 8th grade class tonight.

Good for you! Have you heard of the movie The 13th. Day? It's just being released now, and you could order the DVD to watch with your class:

http://www.the13thday.com

[Sacajaweau]

This wasn’t in prehistoric times. Cameras were around. NO ONE took a picture??

[Salvation]

And the truth:

Top Ten Scientific Explantions of Miracle of Sun at Fatima (Catholic Caucus)

Fatima and the Theology of the Body: Part II
Fatima and Akita
Fatima and the Theology of the Body: Part I
The Story of Fatima -- Part 2
The Story of Faitma -- Part 1
Our Lady of Fatima, May 13
Litany of Our Lady of Fatima
Last Fatima child buried in final resting place (Sr. Maria's remains transferred to Fatima)
Sister Lucia, last remaining witness of Fatima apparitions, dies at 97
SISTER LUCIA RIP

LAST OF CHILDREN WHO CLAIMED TO SEE VIRGIN MARY DIES AT 97
Last child who claimed to see "Virgin Mary" dies
Virgin Mary Child Dies (Lucia of Fatima)
Mourning for Fatima seer (Portugal declares day of mourning)
Third Secret of Fatima is not fully revealed.
Sister Lucia, last remaining witness of Fatima apparitions, dies at 97
Sr. Lucia, Fatima, and Islam
Mystery Fatima: Death of Lucia Accents Famed Secrets & Area's Hidden History
"No More Secrets," Visionary Said in 2001 (Sr. Lucia Confirmed Russia Consecrated to Mary)
Papal praise at Sister Lucia's funeral

Our Lady of Fatima, ‘counterrevolutionary’ and ‘ecumenical’
Fatima Statue Due at Vatican to Mark a Fateful Day 25 Years After Attempt on John Paul II's Life
Sister Lucia's Unpublished Writings Released - Visionary Reflects on Marian Apparitions
Sister Lucia's Last Moments
Fatima: Case Closed
Rosary Rallies Planned for Fatima Anniversary [Catholic Caucus]
Giant new church at Fatima shrine
Sister Lucia's Beatification Process to Begin ( Pope Waves 5-Year Waiting Period)
The faithful remember miracle of Fatima, Thousands gather in Washington Twp. on 90th anniversary
Pius XII Saw "Miracle of the Sun" [Catholic Caucus]

[goat granny]

No one explained why it happened on schedule....

[Northern Yankee]

Thanks for the note.

I scoured the area on the 13th of October, the anniversary, and couldn't find any store that had it. I believe there's going to be a wider release come December 1st?

I've already told my students about the movie and they are primed for it.

I look at where we are as a society, and I am so heartened by my faith. There's so much deception with this current administration. It is amazing how they continue to mock Christianity, and all of the things that made this country great, and get a pass by so many out there.

That tells me we've got more work to do in regards to spreading our faith; convincing many that the government is not the answer, and stands in the way of all things good and true.

[Lorica]

I scoured the area on the 13th of October, the anniversary, and couldn't find any store that had it. I believe there's going to be a wider release come December 1st?

I think you can order it online - that might be your best bet. I hope it's as good as I've heard and really makes an impression.

I look at where we are as a society, and I am so heartened by my faith.

Absolutely. Without God, life has no meaning, no purpose. And yet there are so, so many who will continue to try to fill that hole with something/someone else, and it will never be filled. We were meant for God, and most will spend their whole lives learning that lesson. Time is so short.

[John Locke]

But everyone agrees there was a mass hallucination.

Either the Sun moved or it didn't. If it didn't move, then 70,000 people experienced a mass hallucination. But if it did, then 500 million people suffed a mass hallucination - the rest of the daylight hemisphere, hallucinating an unmoving sun.

Formidable odds indeed.