Reply #57: Hoax is a strong word [View All]

[Stuckinthebush]

It implys that MT intentionally staged a "miracle" event for the purpose of increasing either her standing in the community or her chances of sainthood after death.

From what I know about MT, I seriously doubt that she would fake a miracle. No matter what our thoughts about religious beliefs are, she believed deeply in the tenets of her faith, and that would negate her ability to actively engage in a hoax.

However, there is the possibility that she was an unwitting player in all of this. A person came to her with an ailment, she prayed, the person then later received other care, and the person was healed. While this set of events has nothing to do with a "miracle", it does explain a great deal about said miracle experience.

Indeed, miracles are based on magical thinking which is irrational at its base, however, individuals who are deeply spiritual do sincerely believe in the possibility of miracles and this allows them to explain events via magical thinking without intellectual dishonesty.

In the end, I would imagine that the answers to the following questions are this:

Was a hoax committed? Most likely not.
Did a miracle happen? Definitely not.
Does MT deserve the positive attention that she has always received? Of course - miracle or no.

I hope MT receives the highest honors that can be given from her faith community because this will show that what she did for humans throughout her life was wonderful and should be held as an example for all of us.