Everything that is supposed to be attributed to Jesus, and everything that Christians claim to be special or unique about him, has been done many times before. He performed miracles, as many others before him claimed to have done. He was “born of a virgin”, like so many others. Last, but not least, Jesus claimed to be the son of God. Jesus is believed to have performed miracles, such as famously turning water into wine (John 2:9) and healing the blind (Mark 8:21-23). But several other notable figures in history have also been reported to have performed miracles themselves. In Buddha's case, he performed what people would call "miracles" from the day of his birth until his death (tonirvana). The Buddha's psychic powers (called miraculous powers in other religions) were acquired through his long and intense training in meditation. Among his many abilities were "the power to levitate, multiply one's body, read the minds of others, and pass through solid rock." (www.parami.org) These abilities were exercised during many episodes of his life and were considered common occurrences by his disciples and those who encountered him. The Buddha often taught that such powers can be acquired through meditation training. Often, when the uneducated, the unwary, and the naive see the working of miracles, faith and unbelief deepen. "Converts who are attracted to a religion, and to Jesus Christ, by witnessing these powers, embrace a faith, not because they realize the truth or gain wisdom, but because they are frightened or impressed by things they don't understand." (www.parami.org). "Miracles are violations of natural laws. Natural laws are immutable. It is impossible for immutable laws to be violated. Therefore, miracles are impossible." (Spinoza, Benedict) Benedict Spinoza was a Jewish philosopher who insisted that “a miracle, whether contrary to nature or beyond it, is mere absurdity.” He said that nothing happened in nature contrary to its universal law. Several others, such as David Hume and Alistair McKinnon, agreed with Spinoza's theories. Another Christian belief is that Jesus was "born of a virgin", the mother being of course the Virgin Mary. The scientific impossibility of being born without the contributions of a human mother and a human father. Aside for now, countless others were born or claim to be born of a virgin..