Lesson 17 –
Are Miracles Possible According to Science?

There are many claims against miracles that seem to be based in science. But when we investigate these claims we invariably find that they rely either on a non-Christian understanding of the nature of miracles, or an inaccurate understanding of the purview of science. Miracles constitute "a sensible effect produced by God, which transcends all the forces of nature," and this means miracles also transcend the scientific method which concerns itself with the regular patterns of nature and its forces.

Course Reading

Summa Theologiae I q. 105, a. 7 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Excerpt from question 105, article 7 of the First Part of the Summa Theologiae:

The word miracle is derived from admiration, which arises when an effect is manifest, whereas its cause is hidden; as when a man sees an eclipse without knowing its cause, as the Philosopher says in the beginning of his Metaphysics. Now the cause of a manifest effect may be known to one, but unknown to others. Wherefore a thing is wonderful to one man, and not at all to others: as an eclipse is to a rustic, but not to an astronomer. Now a miracle is so called as being full of wonder; as having a cause absolutely hidden from all: and this cause is God. Wherefore those things which God does outside those causes which we know, are called miracles.

Course Listening

Is Belief in Miracles Rational? | Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P.

Related videos from earlier in the series

This episode was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this project are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.