"A miracle is an event that is inexplicable by natural or scientific laws and accordingly gets attributed to some supernatural or praeternatural cause."
Exploring the concept of miracles, including what constitutes a miracle, how they relate to divine intervention, and the question of their reliability.
The concept of miracles: This topic discusses the definition of a miracle, its characteristics, and its relationship to God.
Miracles in different religious traditions: Different religious traditions have different perspectives on miracles. This topic covers the views of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other major religions.
The historical controversies over miracles: Some people doubt the legitimacy of miracles or question their occurrence in history. This topic looks at different historical debates over the authenticity of miracles.
The rationality of miracles: This topic discusses whether miracles are rational or not. Can miracles be explained or do they require a leap of faith?.
The role of miracles in religious experience: This topic looks at how miracles can affect people's religious experiences, and how they can be used to support religious claims.
The problem of evil and miracles: If God intervenes in the world through miracles, why does He not prevent evil from happening? This topic explores the challenge of reconciling the existence of evil and the occurrence of miracles.
The scientific basis of miracles: This topic looks at the scientific explanation of miracles, if any. Can they be explained with natural laws or are they considered supernatural phenomena?.
Miracles and the laws of nature: If miracles are events that break the laws of nature, then what are the implications of this? Can laws of nature be broken?.
Miracles and personal belief: This topic explores the question of whether personal belief or faith is necessary to experience or witness a miracle.
The impact of miracles on religious belief: This topic analyzes the impact of miracles on religious belief. Does the occurrence of a miracle strengthen faith, or does it cause doubt?.
The ethics of miracles: What ethical implications do miracles have? Is it ethical to pray for miracles, and is it ethical to use miracles to manipulate others?.
The relevance of miracles in contemporary society: In modern times, do miracles retain their relevance or have they become obsolete? This topic explores the role of miracles in contemporary society.
Healing miracles: These are miracles that involve the physical or psychological healing of an individual.
Exorcisms: Miracles that involve the expulsion of demons or evil spirits from a person or place.
Nature miracles: These are miracles that involve the manipulation of the natural world, such as calming a storm or the sudden growth of a tree.
Raising the dead: Miracles that involve bringing a deceased person back to life.
Materialization: Miracles that involve the sudden appearance of physical objects, such as food or water.
Visionary miracles: These are miracles that involve experiencing visions or apparitions of religious figures or events.
Mind-reading miracles: Miracles that involve the reading of another person's thoughts or intentions.
Prophecy: Miracles that involve the foretelling of future events.
Levitation: Miracles that involve defying the laws of gravity and appearing to float or fly.
"Various religions often attribute a phenomenon characterized as miraculous to the actions of a supernatural being, (especially) a deity, a magician, a miracle worker, a saint, or a religious leader."
"English-speakers often use the word miracle to characterise any beneficial event that is statistically unlikely but not contrary to the laws of nature, such as surviving a natural disaster, or simply a 'wonderful' occurrence, regardless of likelihood."
"Some coincidences may be seen as miracles."
"Some writers dismiss miracles as physically impossible (that is, requiring violation of established laws of physics within their domain of validity)." - Thomas Jefferson expressed this position.
"Some writers consider miracles impossible to confirm by their nature because all possible physical mechanisms can never be ruled out." - David Hume expressed this position.
"Theologians typically say that, with divine providence, God regularly works through nature yet, as a creator, may work without, above, or against it as well."
"Religions often attribute a phenomenon characterized as miraculous to the actions of a supernatural being."
"English-speakers consider surviving a natural disaster or any statistically unlikely but beneficial event as examples of miracles."
"Religions attribute miracles to the actions of a deity, a magician, a miracle worker, a saint, or a religious leader."
"A true miracle would, by definition, be a non-natural phenomenon."
"Some theologians believe that God may work through nature or without, above, or against it."
"Miracles are often regarded as physically impossible because they require violating established laws of physics within their domain of validity."
"Some writers argue against the existence of miracles due to their physical impossibility."
"David Hume views miracles as impossible to confirm by their nature because all possible physical mechanisms can never be ruled out."
"A miracle is an event that is inexplicable by natural or scientific laws."
"No, miracles are events that are beyond ordinary occurrences."
"No, not all statistically unlikely but beneficial events are considered miracles."
"Various religions attribute miracles to supernatural beings or individuals such as deities, magicians, miracle workers, saints, or religious leaders."
"Some coincidences may be seen as miracles."