“Faith does not, in the realist, spring from the miracle but the miracle from faith. If the realist once believes, then he is bound by his very realism to admit the miraculous also.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky
In this quote, Fyodor Dostoevsky suggests that faith does not come from witnessing miracles, but rather miracles stem from faith itself. He argues that once a realist believes in something, they are then compelled to acknowledge the existence of the miraculous as well. This quote highlights the idea that faith and belief are intertwined, and that acknowledging the miraculous is a natural extension of one's belief system.
Modern Relevance
In this quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky, he explores the relationship between faith and miracles. He suggests that belief in the miraculous is a natural extension of faith; once one believes in the unseen, they are more open to accepting the miraculous. This concept remains relevant today as it challenges individuals to consider how their beliefs shape their understanding of the world around them.
Example of Usage
Fyodor Dostoevsky explores the relationship between faith and miracles in his writing. According to Dostoevsky, faith does not solely rely on witnessing miracles; rather, it is the belief in the miraculous that strengthens one's faith. As he eloquently puts it, "Faith does not, in the realist, spring from the miracle but the miracle from faith. If the realist once believes, then he is bound by his very realism to admit the miraculous also.”
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on the quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky, consider the relationship between faith and miracles. Think about your own beliefs and experiences with faith and how they may influence your perception of miraculous events.
- How do you define faith, and how does it play a role in your life?
- Have you ever experienced or witnessed something that you would consider miraculous? How did this experience impact your faith, if at all?
- Do you believe that faith can lead to the belief in miracles, as Dostoevsky suggests? Why or why not?
- In what ways do you think realism and faith can coexist or conflict with each other?
- How do you think your understanding of faith and miracles may evolve over time as you continue to explore and reflect on these concepts?
Similar quotes
“It is not miracles that dispose realists to belief. The genuine realist, if he is an unbeliever, will always find strength and ability to disbelieve in the miraculous, and if he is confronted with a miracle as an irrefutable fact he would rather disbelieve his own senses than admit the fact. Even if he admits it, he admits it as a fact of nature till then unrecognized by him. Faith does not, in the realist, spring from the miracle but the miracle from faith. If the realist once believes, then he is bound by his very realism to admit the miraculous also.”
“To my thinking, miracles are never a stumbling block to the realist. It is not miracles that dispose realists to belief...Faith does not, in the realist, spring from the miracle but the miracle from faith.”
“The genuine realist, if he is an unbeliever, will always find strength and ability to disbelieve in the miraculous, and if he is confronted with a miracle as an irrefutable fact he would rather disbelieve his own senses than admit the miraculous also.”
“...in my opinion miracles will never confound a realist. It is not miracles that bring a realist to faith. A true realist, if he is not a believer, will always find in himself the strength and ability not to believe in miracles as well, and if a miracle stands before him as an irrefutable fact, he will sooner doubt his own senses than admit the fact. And even if he does admit it, he will admit it as a fact of nature that was previously unknown to him. In the realist, faith is not born from miracles, but miracles from faith. Once the realist comes to believe, then, precisely because of his realism, he must also allow for miracles. The Apostle Thomas declared that he would not believe until he saw, and when he saw, he said: "My Lord and My God!" Was it the miracle that made him believe? Most likely not, but he believed first and foremost because he wished to believe, and maybe already fully believed in his secret heart even as he was saying: "I will not believe until I see.”
“Faith does not, in the realist, spring from the miracle but the miracle from the faith.”
“But you did not know that as soon as man rejects miracles, he will at once reject God as well, for man seeks not so much God as miracles.”