Definition 1

• Miracle as an extraordinary coincidence of a beneficial nature
• Example of Juliane Koepcke 


  • high school student on board flight 508
  • thunderstorm - crashed and killed all but Juliane
  • survived a 9 day journey through the rainforest with maggot-infested wounds
• Example of the West Side Baptist Church

  • Gas explosion which demolished the church
  • All 15 choir members were late for their own reasons
  • Avoided death
• Problems with this definition

  • limited definition - only describes the event and makes no reference about the involvement of a God
  • Religious miracle - why did God save these specific people and not the rest?