What is a miracle?

[beenherebeforeagain]

A miracle is any low-probability high-consequence positive event. Such an event could be called a blessing.

"Tommy: A mirable is when something good happens that you thought would never happen.
Chucky: Well that will never happen!"
[The Rugrats Hanukka episode]

A low-probability high-consequence negative event could be called a curse...and they certainly cause a lot of cursing.

 

[sayak83]

So am I.

This definition is common, but it's got a big problem: since "laws of nature" are inferred from what actually happens, the definition implies that miracles don't happen.

Not necessarily. Natural world has well known regularities. Suppose a prophet comes along and says that on Dec 25th 2023, all chickens all over the world will spontaneously return to being eggs, and it happens just for that one day... we have a good case of a miracle.

 

[Kenny]

Many people especially in religious settings speak about the miracle done by someone in the past, or even today.

But what is actually a miracle?

To me, miracles are not something supernatural miracles are actually something most of us experiences every day or week, But we do not see it as a miracle, because what is a miracle has become natural to humans today.

A kid survives an accident where a house falls upon the kid, that is a miracle to me.
A car runs over an elderly person, but the person survives and walks away, that is to me a miracle.

So what are miracles to you?

I suppose we can have different definitions for a word. Like I love pizza, I love my dog, I love my wife - different expressions but same word.

For me, definition is when the natural course of an event is altered. So, in other words, if you are going to die with a massive tumor and then the next moment the tumor is gone (not by surgery) -- that would be my definition of miracle.

 

[firedragon]

Many people especially in religious settings speak about the miracle done by someone in the past, or even today.

But what is actually a miracle?

To me, miracles are not something supernatural miracles are actually something most of us experiences every day or week, But we do not see it as a miracle, because what is a miracle has become natural to humans today.

A kid survives an accident where a house falls upon the kid, that is a miracle to me.
A car runs over an elderly person, but the person survives and walks away, that is to me a miracle.

So what are miracles to you?

I was young, and me and my friend got a movie we used to call "adult movies". It was basic instinct. We watched half way and I hid the tape in my cupboard. No one ever opens my cupboard. My mom saw in her dream that I hid a tape in the cupboard and suddenly in the dead of the night opened it and found it. They flew in late night so there is no way she knew.

What in the world is that? She is no soothsayer. I think its some kind of instinct moms have. Is it a miracle? I have no clue. I think its no miracle. But I must say I have no clue.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I was young, and me and my friend got a movie we used to call "adult movies". It was basic instinct. We watched half way and I hid the tape in my cupboard. No one ever opens my cupboard. My mom saw in her dream that I hid a tape in the cupboard and suddenly in the dead of the night opened it and found it. They flew in late night so there is no way she knew.

What in the world is that? She is no soothsayer. I think its some kind of instinct moms have. Is it a miracle? I have no clue. I think its no miracle. But I must say I have no clue.

Did it get you to become less interested in those things that were on the movie? if yes, I would call that was a mirical

 

[firedragon]

Did it get you to become less interested in those things that were on the movie? if yes, I would call that was a mirical

Haha. The movie was no porno. We were wondering what the big deal was. It was a good thriller.

Anyway I got an idea of how you deem something a miracle. I of course dont agree with it. But this is your faith, and its good. Cheers.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Haha. The movie was no porno. We were wondering what the big deal was. It was a good thriller.

Anyway I got an idea of how you deem something a miracle. I of course dont agree with it. But this is your faith, and its good. Cheers.

I would actually be surprised if many were agree with how my understanding of miracles is
To be honest, I see miracles mostly every day but in a very natural way

 

[oldbadger]

Many people especially in religious settings speak about the miracle done by someone in the past, or even today.

But what is actually a miracle?

To me, miracles are not something supernatural miracles are actually something most of us experiences every day or week, But we do not see it as a miracle, because what is a miracle has become natural to humans today.

A kid survives an accident where a house falls upon the kid, that is a miracle to me.
A car runs over an elderly person, but the person survives and walks away, that is to me a miracle.

So what are miracles to you?

Hello CC.

You are a miracle. Everyone on RF is a miracle.

How many children did your father sire and your mother bear?
My late wife and I had three children.

How many billions of sperms does a man produce in his life?
How many eggs does a woman produce, maybe 400?

Now multiply countless billions 400 times.

Wow! What were the chances. We're all miracles but we (mostly) just take it all for granted.

 

[stvdv]

it is normal to us because as it says in Lamentations the mercies of the Lord "are new every morning."

My Master told us:
1) Every night you die
2) Every morning you are born

That sounds similar to your: the mercies of the Lord "are new every morning"

 

[stvdv]

Many people especially in religious settings speak about the miracle done by someone in the past, or even today.

But what is actually a miracle?

"I" fall asleep every night
"I" wake up every morning
Without "me" doing anything

Some people do not wake up in the morning
Considering this, it's a miracle to wake up in the morning

 

[Lain]

My Master told us:
1) Every night you die
2) Every morning you are born

That sounds similar to your: the mercies of the Lord "are new every morning"

This imagery is used in the daily prayers for at night is said "in peace in the self same I will sleep, and I will rest: For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope," with "sleep" often being put for "death" in the Scriptures so this Psalm is fitting for that reflection and before going to bed (when it is prayed), but in the morning the first Psalm to say is "I have slept and have taken my rest: and I have risen up, because the Lord hath protected me," which refers to the Resurrection from the Dead and rising from sleep at the same time, the Resurrection being considered a "new creation" also, so this association is also meant.

It is similar and that's very cool.

 

[stvdv]

This imagery is used in the daily prayers for at night is said "in peace in the self same I will sleep, and I will rest: For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope," with "sleep" often being put for "death" in the Scriptures so this Psalm is fitting for that reflection and before going to bed (when it is prayed), but in the morning the first Psalm to say is "I have slept and have taken my rest: and I have risen up, because the Lord hath protected me," which refers to the Resurrection from the Dead and rising from sleep at the same time, the Resurrection being considered a "new creation" also, so this association is also meant.

It is similar and that's very cool.

Thanks. Yes, indeed. I love it when I see such similarities between "different" faiths


And we were given similar lines in prayer form also: morning prayer and evening prayer

Morning prayer
Know that waking from sleep is but birth and going into sleep is death. On waking, pray every morning of your life,

“Oh Lord, I am born now from the womb of sleep.
I am determined to carry out all tasks this day as offerings to Thee, with Thee ever present before my mind’s eye.
Make my words, thoughts, and deeds sacred and pure.
Let me not inflict pain on anyone; let no one inflict pain on me.
Direct me, guide me, this day.”

Evening prayer
And when you enter the portals of sleep at night, pray,

“Oh Lord! the tasks of this day, whose burden I placed on you this morning, are over.
It was You who made me walk and talk and think and act.
I therefore place at Thy Feet all my words, thoughts, and deeds.
My task is done.
Receive me, I am coming back to you.”

Note:
The morning and evening prayers were given by Sathya Sai Baba in his discourse on 27 July 1961. He said,
" Adopt these as your daily prayers. The best thing is to have your own Self as the source of Light, as the guru. The Inner Intelligence, the Inner Guru will reveal the Truth. This prayerful attitude will so educate your impulses that the Inner Intelligence will be fully revealed

 

[JustGeorge]

I was young, and me and my friend got a movie we used to call "adult movies". It was basic instinct. We watched half way and I hid the tape in my cupboard. No one ever opens my cupboard. My mom saw in her dream that I hid a tape in the cupboard and suddenly in the dead of the night opened it and found it. They flew in late night so there is no way she knew.

What in the world is that? She is no soothsayer. I think its some kind of instinct moms have. Is it a miracle? I have no clue. I think its no miracle. But I must say I have no clue.

I had a friend in Pakistan message me, inquiring about my health. He'd had a dream I was ill.

I'd just gotten home from the doctor. Had never told him there was a thing wrong...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I suppose we can have different definitions for a word. Like I love pizza, I love my dog, I love my wife - different expressions but same word.

For me, definition is when the natural course of an event is altered. So, in other words, if you are going to die with a massive tumor and then the next moment the tumor is gone (not by surgery) -- that would be my definition of miracle.

So identifying a miracle requires clairvoyance?

Sounds like you'd need to be able to say what "the natural course of an event" would be... and not to a "here's what's likely going to happen" level of certainty, but an "I'm absolutely sure that this will happen unless there's a miracle" level of certainty.

 

[Dropship]

But what is actually a miracle?

Well Jesus blew people's socks off with his 37 miracles which is why a humble carpenter from a bunch of mud huts called Nazareth went on to conquer the world.
Miracles are a "Superscience" that we know nothing about, and here's the kicker- Jesus said WE could do them too if we had the knack..

 

[ChristineM]

If, in some sort of accident, a believer escapes injury or death it's a miracle.

To anyone else it was luck.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Well Jesus blew people's socks off with his 37 miracles which is why a humble carpenter from a bunch of mud huts called Nazareth went on to conquer the world.
Miracles are a "Superscience" that we know nothing about, and here's the kicker- Jesus said WE could do them too if we had the knack..

There are some abilities that Prophets do have that would as you say "blow peoples socks off" But for most people, those things are not reachable The smaller daily miracles of this world is more the miracles I see in life

 

[Revoltingest]

I'll tell you what a miracle is.
I'm expecting a big IRS income tax refund.
The check arrives, & as I admire it, someone
tells me it's not even remotely what I expected.
There's an extra zero on the right hand side.
Woohoo!

 

[Spirit of Light]

I'll tell you what a miracle is.
I'm expecting a big IRS income tax refund.
The check arrives, & as I admire it, someone
tells me it's not even remotely what I expected.
There's an extra zero on the right hand side.
Woohoo!

So instead of 5$, you got 50$

 

[Revoltingest]

So instead of 5$, you got 50$

That's the concept.