Miracles

Miracles

1. Miracles as Violations

   • David HUME
     • 'A transgression of a natural law by a particular volition of the Deity'
   • Key claim that a miracle is a violation or breaking of a natural law
     • The story of Moses parting the Red Sea 'Exodus 14:21) for example
   • Objection to the violation defintion
     • The definition assumes that we know what the laws of nature are
     • Scientific knowledge is constantly changing
       • Unless we know exactly all of the laws of nature, we are unable to comment on whether something is a miracle or not
     • Alastair McKINNON
       • If the laws of nature merely describe the actual course of events

2. Miracles as Events with Religious Significance

   • Problem of 'Violation'; coincidences are excluded
     • R.F. HOLLAND
       • Example of the boy on a train track; the boy has no time to jump out of the way, however the driver had fainted and the automatic stop employed
         • THe mother of the boy thinks there is some religious significance
         • They are down to subjective interpretation