Inspired by my new found athiesm, but still interesed to some extent in matters religious, I started thinking; if I was Derren Brown, how might I re-enact a miracle? Take, for instance, the loaves and fishes one.
I've no doubt that something remarkable happened with Jesus, a very large crowd of people and a very small quantity of food.
Can't you imagine Derren Brown saying (and looking the first few rows of the crowd in the eye) "Now then, you remember what I was saying about how much better it is to give than to receive?" Crowd nod, enthralled now, as they have been for the past few hours by this charismatic, mesmeric talker. "And you remember what I told you about loving your neighbour?" Nod "And all that we said about the sort of thing you need to do in order to get into heaven? OK now. I'm going to hand out some loaves and fishes in a minute. There isn't enough to feed even just a handful of you, so please will you all make sure that those who have the greatest need are fed".
You can just imagine the silence that falls, all eyes watching, saliva gathering in dry mouths, stomachs rumbling, as the food is passed back and back through the crowd, untouched. What a wonderful feeling of others-before self would permeate that crowd, the brotherly love that would flow, and those people who had brought some food for themselves would dig it out from their bags and pockets and pass it back too, feelings of embarassment mixed with pride. And finally, at the back of the crowd, the food would be collected, dirty and broken now, but obviously more than when it started out. Imagine the gasps, the cheering as people enjoyed their miraculous solidarity.
They would go home and tell everyone who'd listen about what had happened that day. "This young teacher fed us on words, he sustained us with his love and then, when we were crying out for real food we found that not only could his words take our hunger away, but that when he did give food out out it became more than was given, even after everyone had had a chance to eat!
That would be a miracle that would make sense to me.