{
  "id": 16477634,
  "title": "Do Miracles Really Happen?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/do-miracles-really-happen",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-25T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/2026/10/do-miracles-really-happen/689116/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Carlos Eire, a religious historian, was airlifted out of Cuba as a child due to the Castro regime. This experience of moving between cultures and worldviews profoundly shaped his work. In his latest book, \"They Flew,\" Eire examines early modern reports of miracles, trying to imagine himself in the minds of those who claimed to witness levitations, bilocations, and other impossible events. He asks what we can learn by taking these reports seriously. Eire discusses the importance of radical empathy, which involves approaching those with different viewpoints with a willingness to understand their perspectives. He shares his personal journey from leaving Cuba at age 11 and the hardships he faced, including spending nine months in a juvenile delinquents' home. Eire reflects on the past as a foreign country, emphasizing the need to understand and respect people's unique experiences.",
  "summary": "People throughout history have claimed to witness impossible occurrences. Historian Carlos Eire asks: What if they’re telling the truth?",
  "key_points": [
    "Carlos Eire, former Cuban, moved between cultures as child",
    "Book 'They Flew' explores early modern miracle reports",
    "Emphasizes radical empathy to understand diverse viewpoints"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}