ABSTRACT
The liberal pastoral theologian Hugh Melinsky, took an approach based upon synthesis rather than conflict between healing miracles and modern medicine. For him a 'miracle' occurs under the following conditions: First an event is claimed to have happened which does not conform with the normal run of human experience. Passionate emotion is a very strong feature of the Synoptic healing stories. This takes several forms: sometimes it is Jesus who is portrayed as angry; sometimes it is the healing that is set in a situation of sharp confrontation; and sometimes it is the crowd which is portrayed as being afraid or amazed. After compassion in the Synoptic healing stories comes a cluster of actions and attitudes which collectively, and in the context of health today, might most appropriately be termed 'care'. 'Faith' is present in both of these senses, faith as trust in the healer and faith as response to God.
