Supernatural

Supernatural defined:

"Supernatural - of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe ; especially : of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil" - Merriam-Webster God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil" - Merriam-Webster

Main Entry:

su·per·nat·u·ral

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Medieval Latin supernaturalis, from Latin super- + natura nature

Date of origin:

15th century

The term supernatural or supranatural (Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature") pertains to an order of existence beyond the scientifically visible universe.[1] Religious miracles are typically supernatural claims, as are spells and curses, divination, the belief that there is an afterlife for the dead, and innumerable others. Supernatural beliefs have existed in many cultures throughout human history.

Characteristic for phenomena which are classified as supernatural are anomaly, uniqueness and uncontrollability, thus lacking the reproducibility required for scientific examination. Supernatural themes are often associated with paranormal and occult ideas, suggesting the possibility of interaction with the supernatural by means of summoning or trance for instance.

Views on the supernatural:

Speculative views on the "supernatural" include that it may be

Distinct from nature -  Some events occur according to natural laws, and others occur according to a separate set of principles external to nature. For example God (in most definitions) is considered to be the ultimate creator of the universe and the natural laws. Those who believe in Angels and Spirits generally assert that they are super-natural entities. Some religious people also believe that all things which humans see as natural only act the same way consistently because God wills it so, and that natural laws are an extension of divine will.

A higher nature - Others assert that God, miracles, or other putative supernatural events are real, verifiable, and part of the laws of nature that we do not yet understand. [citation needed]

A human coping mechanism - Others believe that all events have natural and only natural causes. They believe that human beings ascribe supernatural attributes to purely natural events (eg: Lightning, Rainbows, Floods, the Origin of Life).

Magic - Many people have sought to use both magic and science in hopes of empowering humanity for improvement and to achieve a clearer picture of humanity's place in the cosmos. In some of the earliest Christian art (from the 3rd century) Jesus Christ is portrayed as a bare-faced youth holding a wand as a symbol of power[2][3] (See: Images of Jesus).[4] There may be a persistent link between supernaturalism, the paranormal, and the desire for immortality.[5][6]

A word for unexplained events - Before the scientific method was used, everything was believed to have a supernatural cause.[7] "Supernatural" today is in this sense merely used as an inspiration for more scientific knowledge tomorrow, through observation and analysis.

Another part of a larger nature - This is a view largely held by monists and process theorists. According to this view, the "supernatural" is just a term for parts of nature that modern science and philosophy do not yet properly understand, similar to how sound and lightning used to be mysterious forces to science. Materialist monists believe that the "supernatural" consists of things in the physical universe not yet understood by modern science, while idealist monists reject the concept of "supernatural" on the grounds that they believe "nature" is the non-material. Neutral monists maintain that "nature" and "supernature" are artificial categories as they believe that the material and non-material are both either equally real and simultaneously existent, or illusions that stem from the human mind's interpretation of reality.

Arguments in favor of a supernatural reality:

Many proponents believe that past, present and future complexities and mysteries of the universe cannot be explained solely by naturalistic means and argue that it is reasonable to assume that a non-natural entity or entities resolve the unexplained. By its own definition, science is incapable of examining or testing for the existence of things that have no physical effects, because its methods rely on the observation of physical effects. Proponents of supernaturalism claim that their belief system is more flexible, which allows more diversity in terms of intuition and epistemology.

With advances in technology, an attempt is being made to apply scientific measures to supernatural claims in an attempt to gain credibility. The use of specialized camera's, thermal temperature recorders, digital voice recorders, and EMF meters are becoming common tools for attempting to prove the existence of these claims.

References:

1. Merriam-Webster.com Merriam-Webster Dictionary
2. The Two Faces of Jesus by Robin M. Jensen, Bible Review, 17.8, Oct 2002
3. Understanding Early Christian Art by Robin M. Jensen, Routledge, 2000
4. (See Lynn Thorndike's classic study,The History of Magic and Experimental Science, Tarbell Course in Magic, vol 1- Harlan Tarbell, forward and epilogue to Greater Magic- John Northern Hilliard, The Discoverie of Witchcraft- Reginald Scot and the vanishing works of Henry Ridgely Evans, The Old and New Magic, The Spirit World Unmasked, and Hours with Ghosts or 19th Century Witchcraft.)
5. The Psychology of Conviction: A Study of Beliefs and Attitudes by Joseph Jastrow, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1918
6. Search for the Soul by Milbourne Christopher, Thomas Y. Crowell, Publishers, 1979