Miracles: Definitions

Question 1

Hume’s definition

Answer 1

• “A transgression of a law of nature brought about by a particular violation of the Deity, or by the interposition of some invincible agent”
• implied by the definition that it is impossible

Question 2

Aquinas’ defintion

Answer 2

• “having a cause absolutely hidden from all. This cause is God”
• influenced by Aristotle’s 4 causes
• doesn’t have to break LoN

Question 3

Stephen Evans’ definition

Answer 3

• “They have a function and a purpose, and usually that function is a revelatory one”

Question 4

John Macquarie’s definition

Answer 4

• must be attributable to God and show distinctiveness
• rejects the idea that everything is a miracle as some events are more significant than others and the term would lose its meaning
• rejected believe that God suspends LoN due to the philosophical difficulties that arise as a result