Summary

In "Miracles: A Preliminary Study," C.S. Lewis embarks on a philosophical exploration of miracles, challenging modern skepticism and defending their possibility within a coherent worldview. Lewis begins by establishing the existence of a supernatural realm alongside the natural, arguing against Naturalism, which posits Nature as the ultimate and only reality. He asserts that reason and moral judgment, inherent in human experience, cannot be fully explained by natural processes alone, thus necessitating a supernatural origin.

Lewis delves into the conflict between Naturalism and Supernaturalism, defining Nature as what occurs 'of itself' and contrasting it with the supernatural, which originates from a source beyond Nature. He critiques the popular 'religion' of his time, often a form of Pantheism, for excluding the 'living God' of Christianity, a God who actively intervenes in the world. The author then addresses common objections to miracles, such as the notion that science has disproven them or that the vastness of the universe diminishes humanity's importance, dismissing these as 'red herrings' that misunderstand the nature of miracles.

The book examines the laws of Nature, proposing that they do not preclude miracles but rather provide the very framework within which miracles can be recognized as supernatural interventions. Lewis considers three conceptions of these laws: as brute facts, applications of averages, and necessary truths. He concludes that even if laws of Nature are necessary truths, miracles don't break them but introduce new factors the laws must accommodate. He also argues that miracles, if real, must reveal the total harmony of existence at a deeper level, and not be arbitrary.

Further, Lewis explores the idea of 'special providences,' suggesting that all events are providential, reflecting God's direction, and that natural events are natural because they are interlocked within a fixed pattern. He describes the Grand Miracle central to Christianity as the Incarnation, where God became Man, and examines miracles of both the Old and New Creations to demonstrate their consistency with God's character and actions. Old Creation miracles include fertility and healing, while New Creation miracles involve dominion over the inorganic and the reversal of death.

Ultimately, Lewis argues that the Christian claim is not improbable but illuminating, harmonizing with fundamental aspects of reality and providing a framework for understanding both the natural and supernatural worlds. He cautions against a purely negative spirituality, emphasizing that God is the creator of the natural world, not its enemy, and that the Christian hope involves a renewed and glorified creation, where spirit and nature are brought into perfect harmony.