[Avodah] Rationalism and supernaturalism

[David Riceman]

kennethgmiller at juno.com wrote:
> Can someone explain those "philosophical grounds" to me?
Magic is a suspension of the laws of nature (see Ramban Shoftim 18:9).  
The Rambam held that the laws of nature do not get suspended (see PHM 
Avoth 5:5) since that would imply that God changes (see Ikkar #2).
> What did the Rambam say about the various gemaras that a person said the Shem Hemeforash and was able to fly in the air, or kill another person, or whatever.
He says (in the hakdamah to Perek Helek) that the Gemara is relating 
either dreams or allegories, and that the gemara doesn't need to specify 
that since no sensible person could possibly take such things literally.

David Riceman