Difference between revisions of "Philosophy:Miracles/2"
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Miracles Have Scientific Explanations | Miracles Have Scientific Explanations | ||
<p>Miracles don't contravene the laws of nature, and can always be explained by physical non-miraculous phenomena. Miracles only appear to be miracles due to fortuitous timing.</p> | <p>Miracles don't contravene the laws of nature, and can always be explained by physical non-miraculous phenomena. Miracles only appear to be miracles due to fortuitous timing.</p> | ||
− | <mekorot>R. Saadia Gaon in <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitSecondCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit Second Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBemidbar22-28" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 22:28</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink></mekorot> | + | <mekorot>R. Saadia Gaon in <multilink><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra<fn>The citation of R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra does not match R. Saadia's own commentary, where he states that the snake was a specially modified snake which was given human characteristics in order to test Adam.</fn></a><a class="ahtNonEditable" href="#fn1">1</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitFirstCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit First Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBereshitSecondCommentary3-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit Second Commentary 3:1</a><a href="IbnEzraBemidbar22-28" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 22:28</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink></mekorot> |
<point><b>Examples</b> – Ibn Ezra brings two examples of R. Saadia reinterpreting miracles to follow the laws of nature. These examples are the two cases of speaking animals in Tanakh: the snake in the Garden of Eden (Bereshit 3) and Bilam's donkey (Bemidbar 22). According to R. Saadia, animals are physically lacking the ability to speak, and therefore he explains that angels spoke, pretending to be the animals.</point> | <point><b>Examples</b> – Ibn Ezra brings two examples of R. Saadia reinterpreting miracles to follow the laws of nature. These examples are the two cases of speaking animals in Tanakh: the snake in the Garden of Eden (Bereshit 3) and Bilam's donkey (Bemidbar 22). According to R. Saadia, animals are physically lacking the ability to speak, and therefore he explains that angels spoke, pretending to be the animals.</point> | ||
<point><b>Exceptions</b> – According to Ibn Ezra's understanding of R. Saadia, miracles that contravene the laws of nature can only occur if necessary to prove the truth of a prophet's statement.</point> | <point><b>Exceptions</b> – According to Ibn Ezra's understanding of R. Saadia, miracles that contravene the laws of nature can only occur if necessary to prove the truth of a prophet's statement.</point> |
Version as of 09:07, 17 October 2018
Miracles
Exegetical Approaches
Miracles Follow the Laws of Nature
Miracles don't contradict the laws of nature. Stories of miracles should be explained in ways that match the laws of nature.
Miracles Have Scientific Explanations
Miracles don't contravene the laws of nature, and can always be explained by physical non-miraculous phenomena. Miracles only appear to be miracles due to fortuitous timing.
Miracles Should Be Understood Allegorically
Miracles that contravene the laws of nature did not happen in reality, and stories that speak of them must be understood as allegories, dreams, or prophecies.
- Mentions of Angels – According to Rambam, all stories which mention angels appearing or speaking did not happen in real life, but rather were prophetic dreams. These include Avraham's Guests (Bereshit 18), Yaakov's encounters (Bereshit 32:2-3,25-33), Bilam's Donkey (Bemidbar 22), and many others.
- The End of Days – According to Rambam, the prophecies regarding changes in nature in the end of days (such as Yeshayahu 11:6) should be understood allegorically, as referring to world peace, and not actual changes in the behavior of animals.
Miracles Are Exceptions to the Laws of Nature
While laws of nature exist, and Hashem generally does not interfere with them, He occasionally does make exceptions, and causes miracles.
Nature Is Entirely Miraculous
The laws of nature don't contradict miracles. The laws of nature need to be explained in a way that includes miracles.
There Are No Laws of Nature
There are no "laws" of nature, since everything is caused directly by Hashem's will, and may change at His desire.
Miracles Are Hard-Coded Into the Laws of Nature
The laws of nature were pre-designed at creation to include certain exceptions, which are viewed as miracles.