Miracle of the fishes was a natural die-off?

[iBrian]

I have to admit, I tend to take these reports with a pinch of salt, but I thought the story may or may not be of interest to at least some Christians, so here goes:

Study suggests Jesus's 'miraculous catch of fish' may have had a less-than-miraculous explanation

A multi-institutional team of environmental scientists and physical limnologists has found that there may be a scientific explanation for Jesus' "miraculous catch of fish"—one that does not involve miracles. In their paper published in the journal Water Resources Research, the group describes...

phys.org

tl:dr - The study claims Jesus was preaching at the same time as a natural mass die off of fish, which allowed the disciples to feed everyone present. On the one hand, that might be read as a rebuttal of the Gospel accounts because it assumes no miracle - but on the other, some might read it as proof the accounts were real. So, take your pick.

 

[wil]

On the loaves and fishes... the most likely explanation to me is normal human nature.

Our first response to just about anything is no. Yet in time, due to either the good nature of another or mob mentality we move to a different stance.

"Hey Jesus is going to be talking at the mount tomorrow, wanna go?"

"Sure, I'll pack a basket...you know how he goes on"

"Lol...good idea...yeah the dude can talk!"

We get there and omg, the hillside is full...we moved up where we we got close but so many people.

"Did you hear that, they are asking for food"

"Sheesh, I brought some, but not enough for all these people"

"The disciples brought some baguettes and dried fish and are passing it around."

"I brought same, I got some extra...I can contribute a little"

"They said, take some leave some for others, gab some kippers, put in some Herring an the extra loaf, save the wine and dates for later"

 

[Thomas]

Of the two, I'm more inclined to believe a body of people would not go out without provisions.

But then, when we dealing with miracles, rational explanations are never going to cut it.

The other event sounds almost as fanciful as the miracle itself ... no doubt some Christian groups will insist that God orchestrated the phenomena either to assist in the miracle, or as an explanation, to further test one's faith ...

Was it a miracle? I would say that as John only records seven miracles, or 'signs' as he prefers, and the feeding of the 5,000 is one, so yes, that is a sign of the living presence of the Logos among the people.

Although the 153 fish is recorded in John 21, it's not counted as a miracle by him, but then any event is overshadowed by presence of the Risen Christ.

 

[moralorel]

...and supposedly Jesus was walking on a sheet of ice
...and supposedly it was really really windy the day Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

 

[TheLightWithin]

...and supposedly Jesus was walking on a sheet of ice
...and supposedly it was really really windy the day Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Or Jesus had the capacity to freeze the water when he needed it to be ice
And Moses has the capacity to get the wind going when needed

 

[badger]

I have to admit, I tend to take these reports with a pinch of salt, but I thought the story may or may not be of interest to at least some Christians, so here goes:

Study suggests Jesus's 'miraculous catch of fish' may have had a less-than-miraculous explanation

A multi-institutional team of environmental scientists and physical limnologists has found that there may be a scientific explanation for Jesus' "miraculous catch of fish"—one that does not involve miracles. In their paper published in the journal Water Resources Research, the group describes...

phys.org

tl:dr - The study claims Jesus was preaching at the same time as a natural mass die off of fish, which allowed the disciples to feed everyone present. On the one hand, that might be read as a rebuttal of the Gospel accounts because it assumes no miracle - but on the other, some might read it as proof the accounts were real. So, take your pick.

Big catches of fish?
Meh..... Not so hard for a bright man like Jesus to work out.
Suppose that the boatmen-disciples sent young followers out with baskets to collect food scraps. These could be scattered over water to attract fish before the boatmen circled that area with their nets.
Job done........???

 

[wil]

Big catches of fish?
Meh..... Not so hard for a bright man like Jesus to work out.
Suppose that the boatmen-disciples sent young followers out with baskets to collect food scraps. These could be scattered over water to attract fish before the boatmen circled that area with their nets.
Job done........???

So no miracle? But a fisher of men?

 

[badger]

So no miracle? But a fisher of men?

Well.....yes!
I reckon that most of the miracles in G-Mark can be explained as natural events, but the other gospels....not so much.
Imo Jesus did exist, but he was a man with a rebellious mission..

 

[EricPH]

The biggest miracle is the creation of the universe and life. If God can create life from non life, every other miracle is minor by comparison.

Moses parted the sea, with a wall of water on his left and on his right. I can't see any wind doing that.

 

[badger]

The biggest miracle is the creation of the universe and life. If God can create life from non life, every other miracle is minor by comparison.

I have no idea how the universe got to expand from a single point.

Moses parted the sea, with a wall of water on his left and on his right. I can't see any wind doing that.

I don't think they went out through the Red Sea, but through the Reed Sea, and amazing deed but not 600,000 people....

 

[wil]

I think a bigger miracle would be what made G!d....yeah, I know always was and always will be....good work if ya can get it....

And makes anything after that miracle.sort of ......normal