2 Th e Argument from Miracles *

Philosophers and theologians have advanced a variety of arguments for God’s existence. Th e arguments vary along a number of dimensions. Some are a priori; some are a posteriori. Some depend on a particular defi nition of God; others are more general. But they have features in common. Th ey are independent of any particular religious tradition, depending on nothing more than a generally classical conception of God. 1 Th ey attempt to relate a potential believer to God by way of a defi nition or description. Th ey thus appear, if successful, to yield de dicto rather than de re knowledge of God. And they bear little relation to the reasons for which most believers believe. My aim, in this paper, is to revive an argument for God’s existence that does not share these features. It is primarily historical; it does not depend on any particular defi nition or description of God. It yields, if successful, de re knowledge of God within the context and history of a particular religious