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The term Lourdes effect has been coined by the renowned Belgian philosopher of science and skeptic Etienne Vermeersch to account for the fact that some supernatural powers seem to have a sort of resistance to manifesting themselves in a completely unambiguous fashion. According to Vermeersch, should the miraculous power of Lourdes actually exist there would be no reason to think that it would be more difficult for the Virgin Mary or God to reattach a severed arm than to cure paralysis or blindness. The visions and photos of, for instance, the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti also lack reliability and clarity due to a similar effect.^[1][2][3]

Vermeersch uses this term to mock the selective and uncritical approach to so-called miracles, or the frivolous attribution of supernatural gifts to human beings. Skeptics note that the number of fatal accidents that occur on the way to and from Lourdes is considerably higher than the 67 alleged miracles due to faith healing recognized in 2005, and then only by the Vatican.^[4] The 1943 film about Lourdes, The Song of Bernadette, tackled the controversy with a now-famous opening title: "To those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible."^[5]

References

Further reading

• Etienne Vermeersch, Van Antigone tot Dolly. Veertig jaar kritisch denken, Antwerpen, Hadewijch, 1997, 256 pp. (i.e. From Antigone to Dolly: Forty Years of Critical Thinking)