Miracles, Pt. 2

Chapter 2 of Miracles is concerned with the distinction between Naturalism and Supernaturalism. A naturalist sees everything as "part of the whole", that nothing exists beyond what can be called "natural". Everything that is, is "going on of its own accord" (p. 11).

The definitions are further established, but it is to understand that for the naturalist, there is but one nature, in which all things can be understood. And for the supernaturalist, there is some thing or "One Thing" in which all things find their meaning, their direction, their purpose and their creation. There is, for the supernaturalist, some thing that exists in and of itself; it exists because it exists, and all things find the reason for their own existence in the One Thing.

This can be understood as Aristotle's Unmoved Mover, the uncreated creator, the necessary, the Alpha and Omega, the God of the Universe.

Believing that in nature there is no reason for existence at all, and that nature cannot explain itself (is not self-existent), there must be a necessary being that causes all things. That nature exists, or that any law or condition in nature exists cannot account for necessity, only contingency, and a limited one without first causal properties.

If naturalism is all there is, then miracles are necessarily impossible. But that supernaturalism is possible is still no proof of the probability or certainty of miracles. God may very well never interfere or miraculously intervene.

"Our first choice, therefore, must be between Naturalism and Supernaturalism" (p. 16).