Lesson Seventeen of Aquinas 101, with Fr. James Brent, OP, PhD, STL, Asst Professor of Philosophy, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Washington DC.
With respect to natural causes alone, miracles are improbable or even impossible. But with respect to God, miracles in general are probable given his intentions to work them. Those intentions are made known through time and experience of particular events. And with respect to a particular event, alleged to be a miracle, the probability is determined through a reasonable consideration of specific evidence as to the occurrence of the event, scientific evaluation of the explanation of the event, and theological reflection on the significance of all the findings. Like other matters, an open mind follows the whole body of evidence wherever it may lead.
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