‘Our knowledge of miracles leads us to the conclusion that God exists.’ Discuss this point of view.

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'Our knowledge of miracles leads us to the conclusion that God exists.' Discuss this point of view.

A miracle may be defined in different ways, presenting the first problem in establishing their occurrence.

A miracle is a concept which, in everyday usage, might mean little more than an unexpected yet welcome event. However, in religious terminology it is usually considered to describe something of much greater significance. And yet, even here, opinion varies on what may or may not be legitimately classed as a miracle.

St Thomas Aquinas identified three definitions of a miracle. The first includes all those events in which something is done by God that nature could never do (the resurrection of Jesus Christ, for example, would fit into this category). The second describes events in which God does something that can occur in nature, but not in that order. The third relates to events in which God does what usually occurs in nature, but without the operation of nature. Another biblical example of this third definition might be a man recovering from polio in a minute. It is certainly not impossible to recover from polio, but to do so in one minute would be, according to Aquinas, 'miraculous'.

There is another understanding of what constitutes a miracle. RF Holland proposed that 'A coincidence can be taken religiously as a sign and called a miracle.' Moses is said to have parted the Red Sea. It has since been discovered that such a thing could indeed happen naturally in a certain place at a certain time, but it would be an extremely rare occurrence. However, for this to occur coincidentally at the precise moment when Moses required it so would, under Holland's explanation, be a miracle.

David Hume rejects this particular definition of a miracle, stating that 'Nothing is esteemed a miracle, if it ever happens in the common course of nature.' His own definition is: 'A transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the Deity or by the interposition of some invisible agent.' This is generally accepted now as the classic definition: an occurrence that is contrary to the known laws of nature that also bears some religious significance. It is sometimes referred to as the 'violation' concept.

Some theists do not accept this definition because they will not accept the existence of natural laws. Brian Davies is one upholder of the idea that God is present in every action and sustains the world moment by moment. He believes that every moment is therefore miraculous. However most theists agree that God created natural laws so that the world could sustain itself. This way people could accurately predict the consequences of their actions.
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A number of philosophers have put forward arguments denying the possibility of miracles occurring. John Hick argues that 'We can declare a priori that there are no miracles.' He came to this conclusion after considering that natural laws are only formed retrospectively following events that have happened. Events witnessed that were previously thought impossible cannot break the natural law, since the law itself is based on empirical evidence. Such an event should, in fact, render the law in need of adjustment. However, although Hick's comment is technically correct, it really only questions the accuracy of the definition of ...

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