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***** Stimulation Invitation & Program Registration & Info General Location & Map Articles and Extracts |
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18th ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2005 September 10, at Niagara Falls WHAT A WONDERFUL WORD  |
Thought stimulation - hints for those who decide to write a paper, to be co-organizer or to be patron
Miracle and Faith: What do miracles mean for a Christian? Do we need miracles for our faith? Or is it the other way around? What was first, the chicken or the egg?
Miracle and Science: Modern science is not too crazy about miracles. Are miracles contrary to the laws of the universe? Can God violate these laws?
Miracle and Mythology: Comparative religion believes that miracles belong to the realm of mythology. Every religion talks about miracles, but we cannot take these stories literally. Is then any difference between miracles and fairy tales? Some theologians talk about demythologization of the Bible.
Miracle and Psychology: What is the psychological interpretation of miracles? Fairy-tale-like movies, filled with magical super creatures are very popular nowadays (Star Wars, Matrix, The Lord of the Rings). How do we explain this phenomenon?
Miracle Today: Are miracles the remnants of the distant past, or are they still
with us today? In Medjugori, for example, hundreds of people reported miraculous events.
The gurus of India practice levitation, or they can hibernate themselves for months without
food or drinks, or in front of large crowds throw one end of a rope high up in the sky and
then they climb up disappearing in the clouds. Miraculous healings are performed daily on
the TV screen.
Questions
- Are miracles the supernatural fulfilment of human wishes?
- Are miracles the life-giving source that can lead to everlasting life?
- Do we receive only the message of miracles?
- Are miracles the manifestation of supernatural in the natural?
Arguable sentences, or propose new ones:
- There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is. Albert Einstein
- The true miracle is not walking on water or walking in air, but simply walking on this earth. Thich Nhat Hanh
- Whatever a man prays for, he prays for a miracle. Every prayer reduces itself to this: `Great God, grant that twice two be not four'. Ivan Sergeievich Turgenev
- That married couples can live together day after day is a miracle the Vatican has overlooked. Bill Cosby
- The whole order of things is as outrageous as any miracle which could presume to violate it. Gilbert K. Chesterton
- Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. Saint Augustine
- We must remember that Satan has his miracles, too. John Calvin
- Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It's a miracle, and the dance is a celebration of that miracle. Martha Graham
- A miracle is an event which creates faith. That is the purpose and nature of miracles. George Bernard Shaw
- „I tell you, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, "Move from here to there", and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you” (Mt 17.20)
- Through his resurrection Jesus gave us the most magnificent sign, which is at the same time also the most questionable for someone searching for certainty, because there could be only an indirect proof: the empty tomb and the individual appearances. What becomes the most reliable backbone of faith, must become its first trial first. (Biblical dictionary, 212)
- Miracles are not merely transgressions of natural laws. In their broader
meaning, they could be understood as God's signs. Through the eyes of faith, Saint Augustine
recognizes the signs of God's power and love both in the growth of wheat and the
multiplication of loafs. He distinguishes the two only in one respect: the beneficiaries are
used to these signs, or seeing them they are stunned. (Biblical dictionary,
205)
Invitation
If you are interested in these exciting questions, then we are inviting you to a thought-provoking, amusing and eventful weekend. For everybody, who feels spiritually fresh and young, there will be our magnificent lecturers and the friendly milieu!
| Program | Invited lecturers | Organizers | |
| - Lectures from 9 am - Lunch, 12-1 pm - Discussions - Walk in the Park - Picnic |
Rev.Dr. Deák, István Rev.Dr. Juhász, László SJ Dr. Mester, B. Fiore Rev.Dr. Miskolczy, Kálmán Rev.Dr. Murray Watson Rev. Simándi, Ágnes M.Div. |
Presenter: Chef: Baby-sitter: Directors: |
Kovács, Ágnes Kovács, Gizi Gáspár, Vicky Gáspár, Julius and Szilvássy, Gábor |
Registration and more Information - hints for prepare yourself
| Registration fee: | free, but we ask pre registration. |
Information service: Gáspár, Julius tel: 416-651-2764 or Szilvássy, Gábor tel: 416-255-5065 |
| Information: | More Information - on E-mail or telephone - in the evenings by the organizers. |
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| Donations: | Our expenses are covered by donations what is give able to us at St Elizabeth of Hungary Parish or posted to our address. | Address: |
General Information
| Conference: | Every year we organize an annual conference and to lecture we invite
professors or experts. Our conference widens our friends, and we feel that
it's success requires optimal focus and respect towards each other's
opinions. |
| Preparations: | The participant, as preparation, is asked to read those
articles which will only be published
in written form and will be seen on our web site before our Conference. These will
be discussed too after the delivered lectures. The
other articles of our conferences are
readable too. |
| Boarding: | We offer a Hungarian stew for the participants, but for more needs self-sufficient
or a restaurant is available in the park. |
| Dressing: | Leisure wear. We will be in the open air in hole day or under a mushroom roof
in case of raining weather. |
| Travelling: | Individually, but we organize transportation for those who don't have a car.
Parking place is signed on the map. Those persons who come by car, please sign
forward, how many persons could bring with you. |
| Free time: | Available in the parks of the falls. |
| Rules: | The organizers ask: - respect towards each other's opinions, - keep the time of the program. The organizers thanking in advance. |
Location
| Address: | Queenston Heights Park at Niagara Falls (1 km from Floral Clock, and there is a traffic circle at
the entrance of the park). |
| Route: | Toronto - QEW - 405 - Stanley Ave - Portage Rd - Queenston Heights Park. Or Toronto - QEW - 405 - Stanley Ave - Whirlpool Rd - Niagara Pkwy - Queenston Heights Park. Or Toronto - QEW - 420 - Niagara Pkwy - Queenston Heights Park. |
| Time: | 9 am, September 10, 2005. |
Map
