@ ck1
"As for talk of miracles, does returning eyesight (which does happen?) or regrowing limbs (some animal can do that can't they?) really constitute a miracle, aren't things like that a little too individualistic and not of particular importance on a global scale? Could you argue that the rain is a miracle, plants providing oxygen for us to breathe? I personally don't consider these acts of god but they do have an element of the miraculous about them"
I would fundamentally disagree, although it might depend a little on your definition of "miracle" or miraculous".
A fairly common dictionary definition would be
"A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is considered to be divine.
A highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment."
I do not think rain falls into that category,nor plants expiring oxygen. Marvellous, yes. Amazing, certainly. Nature can be awesome and awe-inducing, no question.
Nor would I describe returning eyesight as "miraculous"
However - Show me a human amputee that grows back their limb overnight, following prayer.Show me someone who has lost an eye regrowing a functioning eye. That would be something that fits the definition.
I could probably, with a bit of imagination, do a connect the dots using the stars in the heavens to spell out a phrase like "hello, how are you doing" - What would be a miracle is if the location of the stars was rearranged overnight to spell out the message in glorious technicolour.... :)
Gene therapy offers some exciting opportunities and medicine is advancing all the time. From the viewpoint of someone living just a few decades ago, it might be tempting to describe it as miraculous.