mark wrote:
When we start getting into all these discussions about the supernatural, it's very interesting to watch people cross that line into the realm of the double-standard, in terms of establishing "proof" of various claims.  I'm sure it applies equally to people of all faiths.  But it's actually stunning to see how far people will take it, and not realize they're doing it. 

Let's be clear: we are all in the same boat.  So-called "scholars" and atheists around the world find the entirety of Hebrew and Christian scripture to be utterly implausible, period. 

Your "same boat" is for a different topic, namely lack of belief in a god. The actual topic under discussion is the relevance of supernatural miracles as a requirement for religious beliefs.

I think it is interesting to compare the relevance of miracles to our beliefs in the present day. In Judaism, miracles are recognized as occurring, but no one becomes an adherent to Judaism because a miracle occurs to them. Whereas in Christianity, miracles are frequently used as a reason to believe. All the so-called faith healers that dispense miracles, leads a flock devoted to themselves. The way I see it is that Christians seem to seek out miracles that they then use to confirm their faith. It's weak to me, as these people need a steady diet of miracles to keep their faith going.