Miracle
An event attributed to supernatural causes beyond natural laws.
A miracle is an event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws and is attributed to a supernatural or preternatural cause. Various religions often attribute such phenomena to the actions of a deity, miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. Informally, the term is also used for statistically unlikely beneficial events or simply wonderful occurrences.
- field
- Theology, Philosophy, Religion
- known_for
- Defined as a non-natural phenomenon attributed to supernatural causes; subject of philosophical debate regarding possibility and evidence
Lore & Background
The word miracle is usually used to describe any beneficial event considered physically impossible or otherwise inexplicable by natural means. Theologically, Wayne Grudem defines a miracle as 'a less common kind of God's activity in which he arouses people's awe and wonder and bears witness to himself.' A deistic perspective defines it as a direct intervention of God into the world. Philosophers have offered various views. David Hume defined a miracle as 'a transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the Deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent' and argued that no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle unless its falsehood would be more miraculous. Baruch Spinoza claimed miracles are merely lawlike events of whose causes we are ignorant. Søren Kierkegaard regarded all historical reports, including miracles, as less than certain. Religious traditions record many miracles. In Christianity, the gospels record miracles performed by Jesus, including exorcisms, cures, and natural wonders, with the resurrection considered the greatest miracle.
Reader's Guide
The concept of a miracle has significant philosophical and theological implications. It raises questions about the nature of causality, the validity of testimony, and the relationship between natural laws and divine action. David Hume's argument that belief in a miracle is never rational because the evidence against it is always stronger has been influential, though later thinkers like Richard Swinburne have applied Bayesian methods to assess whether historical testimony can raise the probability of a miracle. The debate continues between those who see miracles as violations of natural law and those who, like Friedrich Schleiermacher, view every event as potentially miraculous from a religious perspective. The article notes that a 2011 poll by the Pew Research Center found more than 90 percent of evangelical Christians believe miracles still take place, while Muslims see Allah as a direct cause of all events. The entry preserves the uncertainty and dispute inherent in the topic, as the article presents both naturalistic explanations (such as cognitive errors or the law of truly large numbers) and supernatural explanations without resolving the tension.
Did You Know?
- British mathematician J. E. Littlewood suggested that individuals should statistically expect one-in-a-million events to happen to them at the rate of about one per month.
- David Hume argued that no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle unless its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact it endeavors to establish.
- According to a 2011 poll by the Pew Research Center, more than 90 percent of evangelical Christians believe miracles still take place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a miracle in theological and philosophical terms?
A miracle is an event that falls outside the scope of natural or scientific explanation and is instead attributed to a supernatural or preternatural agent. It sits at the intersection of theology, philosophy, and religion as a concept that challenges purely materialist accounts of how the world operates.
How do different religious traditions typically explain the source of miracles?
Most faiths trace miraculous events to the direct action of a deity, a recognized saint, a miracle worker, or a religious leader acting with divine authority. The specific agent varies by tradition, but the common thread is that the event transcends ordinary causal chains.
What is the central philosophical debate surrounding miracles?
Philosophers argue over whether miracles are logically possible and whether any evidence can be considered sufficient to confirm one occurred. This debate touches on epistemology, the nature of natural law, and the burden of proof for extraordinary claims.
How does everyday, informal use of the word 'miracle' differ from its strict theological definition?
In casual speech, people often call a lucky or statistically improbable positive outcome a miracle, such as a sudden recovery or a fortunate coincidence. The theological definition is far narrower, requiring an event that genuinely violates natural law rather than merely defying probability.
Why is the concept of a miracle significant in religious and philosophical discourse?
Miracles serve as a key test case for questions about divine intervention, the limits of scientific explanation, and the relationship between faith and reason. Their status as either genuine supernatural acts or unexplained natural events shapes much of the debate between theistic and naturalistic worldviews.
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