Miracles

Term Paper # 100246

Religion and Theology

Miracles

An analysis of the definition of miracles and the validity of testimony to the occurrence of miracles.

2,000 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the concept of miracles. It briefly describes what constitutes nature and then describes a miracle as a non-repeatable counter-instance to a law of nature and suggests that violations of the laws of nature include resurrection, levitation or an unexplained return to health. The paper then discusses the validity of evidence or testimony of miracles.

From the Paper:

"Claims that a supernatural being has intervened into nature are too subjective and biased to deserve the term 'evidence'. To begin with, the effects on the witnesses are profound, but are altered so radically in a brief period of time that those witnesses wonder if the miracle actually took place (Mackie 167). We are aware that all alleged miracles are marked by very defined motivations to influence other people. Above all, we know that in earlier periods, a supernatural being often intervened into nature. This type of occurrence was very common during the Middle Ages. The contradiction of natural laws coincided with a worldview that was based in the sacred rather than the profane. It was also a world where many claims of suspension of natural laws were not in fact violations of natural law at all."

Sample of Sources Used:

Dianda, J. PHL 709. Religion, Science and Philosophy. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press, 2006.
Hume, David. Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding: Miracles. http://www.eserver.org