The question of whether or not miracles are scientific is a multifaceted question having to do with the definition of miracles, the definition of science, and the characteristics of God. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a miracle as an "extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs" such as "the healing miracles described in the Gospels." The second definition listed is "an
extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment" such as "the
bridge is a miracle of engineering." Of course any controversy over miracles involves
only the first definition, not the second. We can assume that the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” was not a miracle, though it was certainly an exciting and unexpected sporting outcome. I would define a miracle as an exceptional action of God
within the natural world, distinct from the usual processes of nature, for some
specific purpose of God, which can have detectable consequences.
