Definition 3

• Miracle as a violation of the natural law 


  something cannot have happened if nature was alone at work - the intervention of a supernatural power
• David Hume

  • Athiest
  • Realist
  • Miracles don't happen
  • Transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition by the Deity or intervention of an invisible agent
  • These laws of nature cannot be broken
• Mackie

  • Atheist but accepted the concept of God's intervention as conceivable
  • Concept makes sense but believes there is no God to intervene
• Problem - John Hick

  • laws of nature are descriptive and not prescriptive (not fixed things for the future)
  • Therefore miracles cannot break the laws of nature because our understanding of them may be limited