Miracles

A miracle is an event attributed to a divine or supernatural cause that appears to transcend natural law. Definitions vary by tradition; some view miracles as violations of nature, others as extraordinary yet lawful interventions.

In many religions, miracles serve as signs, healings, or revelations performed by deities, saints, prophets, or awakened beings. Biblical, Quranic, and Hindu texts recount numerous miracles, while some modern theologians emphasize miracles as acts of divine providence within ordinary order.

Philosophical and epistemological discussions question whether miracles can occur, what counts as credible testimony, and whether natural laws are absolute or provisional. David Hume argued that miracle reports are inherently unlikely and rely on flawed testimony; defenders claim miracles are possible as exceptions to human knowledge or as indicators of divine action.

Common categories include healing, miraculous sustenance or protection, nature miracles (control over weather, seas), and prophetic or eschatological signs. Some traditions distinguish between miracles and feats achieved through astrology, magic, or illusion.

In secular discourse, “miracle” is often used metaphorically for highly unlikely but natural explanations, or as a rhetorical device. Contemporary study tends to examine miracles as religious experiences, historical claims, and their social, cultural, and psychological dimensions.