A miracle is generally understood as an extraordinary and astonishing event attributed to a divine or supernatural power, often inexplicable by natural or scientific laws. The term originates from the Latin miraculum, meaning "wonder" or "to marvel at," reflecting the sense of awe and astonishment such events evoke.[1] [2] [3] [4]

According to www.iAsk.Ai - Ask AI: The definition of a miracle varies across different philosophical, religious, and cultural contexts, but core elements typically involve an event that transcends ordinary understanding and points to a greater, often divine, reality.

Philosophical and General Definitions

Philosophically, a miracle is often defined as an event that exceeds the productive power of nature.[5] This means it cannot be explained by the known laws of physics, chemistry, or biology. David Hume famously defined a miracle as "a violation of the laws of nature,"[5] [6] implying a transgression of established natural regularities. However, this definition has been debated, with some arguing that it's problematic to define a miracle solely by violating natural laws, as our understanding of these laws can evolve.[5] [6] [7] Others suggest that a miracle is not necessarily contrary to nature, but rather beyond our knowledge of nature, stemming from hidden potentialities placed by a divine entity.[7] [8] Informally, the term "miracle" is also used to describe any statistically unlikely but beneficial event, such as surviving a natural disaster, or simply a "wonderful" occurrence, like the "miracle of childbirth."[2]

Religious Perspectives

Across various religions, miracles are often seen as manifestations of divine intervention in human affairs.[1] [2] [3] [4] They serve to reveal God's character, power, and purposes, and to authenticate religious doctrines or the authority of religious figures.[3] [4] [5]

• Christianity: In Christianity, miracles are central to faith, with the resurrection of Jesus being considered the greatest miracle.[2] [3] The Gospels record Jesus performing exorcisms, cures, and natural wonders, referred to as "signs" demonstrating God's activity.[2] The Catholic Church, for instance, has stringent requirements for validating miracles, often requiring two posthumously confirmed miracles for sainthood.[2]
• Islam: In Islam, miracles are referred to as 'Ayah' (sign) in the Quran, signifying divine intervention in human life, often connected to prophets like Muhammad.[2] Medieval Muslim theologians viewed natural laws as "customs of God," allowing for divine intervention without violating inherent principles.[2]
• Judaism: The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) describes numerous miracles, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the Plagues of Egypt, often performed by prophets like Moses and Elijah to demonstrate God's power and support His chosen people.[2]
• Hinduism: Miracles in Hinduism often focus on spiritual liberation, as seen in the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna reveals his true form to Arjuna. Hindu sages have also criticized reliance on miracles as a "cheat" to avoid necessary spiritual work.[2]
• Buddhism: While less emphasized than in Abrahamic religions, Buddhist texts also contain miracle stories, often associated with the veneration of relics or the establishment of Buddhism, such as the legend of Ichadon's execution leading to the adoption of Buddhism in Silla.[2]

Functions and Significance

Miracles serve several key functions:

• Revelation and Signification: They reveal a divine reality or numinous dimension, signifying something beyond themselves.[3]
• Authentication: Miracles can serve as credentials for religious authority, demonstrate the power of a particular deity, or prove the sanctity of holy persons or objects.[3] [4]
• Divine Intervention: They show God's direct involvement in the world, often in response to human needs or to fulfill divine plans.[4]
• Inspiration of Awe: By their extraordinary nature, miracles inspire wonder and awe, drawing people towards a religious understanding of the world.[2] [4]

Criticism and Skepticism

Skeptics and naturalists often challenge the credibility of miracle claims. Arguments against miracles include:

• Impossibility: Some argue that miracles are logically impossible if they violate immutable natural laws, or that attributing them to God implies a lack of foresight or power.[5] [6]
• Lack of Evidence: Critics like David Hume argued that no testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, as the falsehood of the testimony is always more probable than the occurrence of a true violation of natural law.[2] [5] [6]
• Naturalistic Explanations: Many events attributed to miracles can be explained by cognitive errors, psychological factors, or statistically improbable coincidences that are still within the bounds of natural law.[2] [7]
• Scientific Perspective: From a scientific standpoint, an apparent "miracle" would prompt further investigation into unknown natural laws rather than an immediate acceptance of supernatural intervention.[7]

Ultimately, the understanding and acceptance of miracles often depend on one's worldview, with theistic perspectives being more open to their possibility than naturalistic ones.[7]