“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God (Psalm 14:1).'”

I think what Fr Hans is suggesting is that “dogmatic atheism” rejects out-of-hand the possibility of anything beyond the natural.

I think this is a step beyond the actual stance of many atheists and agnostics (or even marginal Deists like myself) who acknowledge that anything is possible but that, lacking evidence, we simply don’t affirm and embrace a specific deity or creed and live as if it were true.

For example, I acknowledge that it’s possible (if greatly unlikely) that the only religion that may have a grasp on the truth of the universe might be that of the Hari Krishnas. Nevertheless, I’m not going to embrace it and live according to their beliefs. I just don’t feel like shaving my head and handing out flowers in airports. But … you never know. 😉

If two doctors sincerely told you (a priest) that they had no explanation apart from the miraculous, seems to me that “top brain trauma hospital” needs a better caliber of doctor.

• “That’s an inviolable tenet of atheist dogma.”

Atheism has no dogma, no tenets, and no doctrine. Nor any central authority who could establish any. It’s just nonbelief in deities, nothing else.

You’ve got it backward: Atheism does not entail naturalism, naturalism entails atheism.

I lost a very dear childhood friend when I was 15 to a similar traumatic brain injury that was the result of a car wreck.

This could only be spoken by someone who has no real understanding of the circumstances.

Here are a few facts not in the article:

1. The trauma room nurse said the severity of Jeremiah’s brain injury was like holding a ripe tomato at waist height and dropping it on the sidewalk. (Told to Jeremiah’s mother after the healing.)
2. Another trauma room nurse said not one staffer on the trauma floor thought Jeremiah would live. (Told to me when Jeremiah was moved to a regular room and started talking and walking.)
3. Two doctors at Shepherd Center, a top brain trauma hospital in the country, said there was no way to explain Jeremiah’s healing apart from the miraculous. (Their words, not mine.)

I realize that your atheism requires that you deny the positive existence of the non-material. That’s an inviolable tenet of atheist dogma. But you would have a very difficult time proving your assertion to the nurses and doctors who helped Jeremiah heal.

Elder Paisios prays for him and steals credit for his recovery from the doctors.

Pretty weaksauce “miracle”.

Superb! Great is the Lord in His Saints!

I am grateful to Dimitri for bringing Elder Paisios to our attention. Or should it be thank you to Elder Paisios for having Dimitri contact Emily… Interesting all the the doctors, nurses, and others who looked at Elder Paisios and asked, ‘is this his grandfather?’ Then wanted to know the connection. They knew something big was going on in his room. Indeed.

I want to thank you Father, for your unrelenting prayers and love. I feel you are like the strongest bridge, always open and supporting our paths safely to God. We are honored and blessed to have you in our lives.

Eternally grateful and looking forward to where Jeremiah’s journey will lead him,…………Patti

Spidey. Thanks for the correction. Check it now. Better?

One little editorial quibble for you. There’s a typo in paragraph six. The phrase is “Calling in the cavalry.” It’s not just “strong men” joining the battle, it’s fighters on horseback. The elevation gives them an advantage. Very apt here!