title: What is a miracle?
abstract: Based on arguments from theology and the philosophy of science, a miracle may be defined as: (1) a real, individual event, the occurrence of which must be (or must have been), at least in principle, susceptible to empirical verification; (2) an event which must be extremely unusual or historically unprecedented from the perspective of empirical scientific knowledge; (3) must evoke widespread wonder; (4) must be something freely given by God and not conjured; (5) must be understood as a special sign from God that transcends the bare facts of the case and communicates a spiritual message; and (6) must have been affirmed as a miracle by the community of believers to whom the message of the miracle must be addressed, at least indirectly.
authors: St. Vincent's Hospital, Manhattan, New York 10011, USA. daniel_sulmasy@nymc.edu
authors: Daniel P
authors: DP
authors: Sulmasy
mesh_terms: D002835:Christianity; D029221:Faith Healing; D006801:Humans; D012067:Religion; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D029181:Spirituality