Testimonies have not been sufficiently well collected, and some contradict each other: we can therefore say nothing about them
This argument is used in the debate Does God exist?.
This argument is an objection to Our Lady's apparitions and prodigies at Fatima prove the existence of God.
Summary
Quotes
“Stanley Jaki, in his publication on the Fatima miracle (Jaki 1999), repeatedly points out that, in order to be able to establish a scientific analysis and explanation of the facts observed on October 13 at Fatima, it is essential to have a large number of testimonies written by witnesses in the first few days following the phenomenon, so that they can give all the details, without themselves (involuntarily) being influenced by their discussions with other witnesses, or by what has been written in the pressG 31,G 96. Given the number of witnesses present that day, it would have been easy for the scientists to collect a few thousand first-hand accounts. S. Jaki, regrets that the various communities or groups who would have had the means and interest to do this work (be it the Catholic ChurchG 52 or Portuguese scientistsG 97 and academicsN 110 some of whom were presentN 111, or even just Catholic scientistsG 69,G 98) did not initiate and carry out this movement. Even the first articles in the press, and the first "letters to the editor", which appeared in the first weeks and months following the event, failed to trigger this vast collection movementG 99,G 9. S. Jaki deplores the fact that Professor Garrette's attempt to "contact educated people who witnessed the phenomenon" was not carried through to completion, and led to the publication of a report which "would have been a great help in assessing the phenomenon "G 100. For their part, secular or non-believing movements have, writes S. Jaki, chosen to "dismiss the facts with contempt "C 14.”
References
Justifications
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There are contradictions between the testimonies -
The testimonies do not give a detailed account of the phenomena.
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The testimonies are relatively few compared to the crowds present.
Objections
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Even if the testimonies have not been rigorously collected, they are sufficient to establish that an extraordinary phenomenon has occurred.
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We establish historical facts from fragmentary and not rigorously established testimonies, we don't have to ask more for a miracle.