Question

Why can’t something be done in the case of a religiously significant miracle?

Answer 1

Events designated as miracles must violate the laws of nature and leave no room for natural explanations. This high standard of evidence makes it rare for events to be officially recognized as miracles, especially when alternative explanations exist, such as medical advancements or other phenomena that could account for the occurrence.

Step-by-step explanation:

To understand why something cannot be done concerning the declaration of a particular event as a religiously significant miracle, we need to consider the stringent conditions required for an occurrence to be widely accepted as a miracle. First, miracles are events that violate the laws of nature, suggesting that they can only be attributed to a supernatural cause, namely the action of a divine being or God. To be recognized as such, there must be clear and indisputable evidence that the event did indeed take place and that no natural explanations can account for it.

In the case of medical phenomena, there are often many alternative explanations that can more plausibly account for a surprising recovery or remission. Because medical science is always advancing, what seems inexplicable today may be well understood tomorrow. For example, the revival of a stopped heart or the restoration of sight through surgery are not considered miracles, but rather successes of modern medicine.

Moreover, for an event to be proclaimed a miracle, it must meet two strict criteria:

1. It must constitute a clear violation of the laws of nature.
2. There must be compelling evidence to support that the event occurred exactly as reported, without any doubt or plausible natural explanation.

The burden of proof falls on those claiming the event as a miracle. Considering that many potential explanations like fraud, delusions, or advanced technology can often be posited for seemingly miraculous events, the skepticism of rational thinkers is understandable. Religious institutions themselves are cautious about endorsing miracles out of concern that disproved miracles could undermine faith.