Difference between revisions of "Philosophy:Miracles/2"
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Miracles Should Be Reinterpreted to Match Nature | Miracles Should Be Reinterpreted to Match Nature | ||
<p>While the events mentioned in stories of miracles happened, certain details should be understood literally, but rather must be reinterpreted to match known laws of nature.</p> | <p>While the events mentioned in stories of miracles happened, certain details should be understood literally, but rather must be reinterpreted to match known laws of nature.</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><fn>The citation of R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra does not match | + | <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><fn>The citation of R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra does not match <a href="RSaadiaGaonCommentaryBereshit3-1" data-aht="source">R. Saadia's own commentary</a></fn></mekorot> |
<point><b>The Snake in the Garden of Eden</b> – According to R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra, the snake did not actually speak. Instead, an angel spoke, and pretended to speak for the snake. Alternatively, an anonymous explanation brought by Ibn Ezra suggests that Chava understood the snake's hissing to mean what the Torah says in his name, but the snake did not actually speak.</point> | <point><b>The Snake in the Garden of Eden</b> – According to R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra, the snake did not actually speak. Instead, an angel spoke, and pretended to speak for the snake. Alternatively, an anonymous explanation brought by Ibn Ezra suggests that Chava understood the snake's hissing to mean what the Torah says in his name, but the snake did not actually speak.</point> | ||
<point><b>Bilam's Donkey</b> – According to R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra, the donkey did not actually speak. Instead, an angel spoke, and pretended to speak for the donkey. Alternatively, one can suggest that Bilam understood the donkey's braying to mean what the Torah says in her name, but the donkey did not actually speak.</point> | <point><b>Bilam's Donkey</b> – According to R. Saadia in Ibn Ezra, the donkey did not actually speak. Instead, an angel spoke, and pretended to speak for the donkey. Alternatively, one can suggest that Bilam understood the donkey's braying to mean what the Torah says in her name, but the donkey did not actually speak.</point> |
Version as of 09:18, 28 October 2018
Miracles
Exegetical Approaches
Miracles Do Not Happen
Any story which mentions a violation of the laws of nature did not happen in reality.
Stories of 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 allegorical fables, not to be viewed historically.
Stories of Miracles Only Happened In Dreams
Miracles that contravene the laws of nature did not happen in reality, and stories that speak of them must be understood as dreams or prophecies seen by the characters in the story.
Miracles Happen But Do Not Contradict Nature
Stories which mentions wondrous, seemingly unnatural events, happened in reality, but never violated the laws of nature.
Miracles Have Scientific Explanations
The events mentioned in miracle stories occurred as told in the stories, and all details can be explained with perfectly natural causes.
Miracles Should Be Reinterpreted to Match Nature
While the events mentioned in stories of miracles happened, certain details should be understood literally, but rather must be reinterpreted to match known laws of nature.
Miracles Happen and Violate the Laws of Nature
Stories of miracles should be understood literally as historical accounts of what happened.
Miracles are Momentary Divine Interventions
When a miracle is needed, Hashem directly intervenes in nature, momentarily violating or suspending the laws of nature.
Miracles are Preprogrammed Divine Interventions
All miracles were preordained during creation, and the laws of nature contain specific exceptions for each and every miracle.