Investigating the Possibility of a Scientific Explanation of Miracles in Transcendent Theosophy

Document Type : Original Research

Author

Ph. D. Graduate in Philosophy of Religion, Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute, Qom, Iran.

10.30497/prr.2024.245109.1863

Abstract

Miracles are one of the important issues in the relationship between science and religion. The question is whether miracles can be scientifically explained or not. In this article, based on the principles of transcendental theosophy, the possibility of a scientific explanation of miracles is investigated. Supernatural events, both good and evil, like all natural phenomena, need both real and preparatory causes. Nevertheless, supernatural events have two ontological characteristics that set them apart from normal ones; one is the agency of the souls and the other is the non-conventional role of preparatory causes. Due to the agency of the souls, as supernatural beings, offering a scientific explanation that is bound to methodological naturalism is not possible. Moreover, in the miracles and good supernatural events, because of their invincibility, the non-conventional role of preparatory causes cannot be recognized and scientifically explained. In other words, Divine wisdom requires that miracles cannot be known even if the agency of the souls, preparatory causes, and natural factors are ignored. As a result, miracles should be considered outside the scope of science.

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Main Subjects

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