Miracles and Supernatural Religion

About this book

James Morris Whiton’s Miracles and Supernatural Religion is a scholarly survey of how nineteenth‑century theology has reshaped the understanding of biblical miracles. The work opens with a promise to stay at a “general outline” while still tackling the most contentious class of miracles, the raising of the dead, before turning to the virgin birth and the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Whiton frames his inquiry as a search for “firm holding ground” amid what he calls the “drift period” of theology, arguing that the psychical, rather than the physical, dominates the biblical narratives. The introductory sections map a series of arguments: the narrowing of miraculous elements, the decline of their evidential value, and a shift toward viewing miracles as products of extraordinary life rather than supernatural violations of nature.

Written in a measured, academic prose typical of early‑20th‑century theological treatises, the book reflects the era’s blend of rigorous scholarship and earnest faith. Whiton’s voice is analytical yet earnest, employing extensive footnotes and references to contemporary debates, psychical research, and biblical criticism. Readers who appreciate historical theology, the interplay of science and religion, or the intellectual currents that led modern scholars to reassess miracles will find this work engaging. It is especially suited to students, clergy, and anyone interested in the evolution of Christian thought at the turn of the century.