Changes

Speculative views on the "supernatural" include that it pertains to:

Speculative views on the "supernatural" include that it pertains to:

 

| '''Distinct from nature'''

==== '''Distinct from nature'''====

| Some events occur according to [[physical law|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 [[Spirit]]s 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.

Some events occur according to [[physical law|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 [[Spirit]]s 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'''

===='''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. See [[Protoscience]].

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. See [[Protoscience]].

 

| '''A human coping mechanism'''

===='''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]], [[Rainbow]], [[Flood]], [[Origin of Life]])

| 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]], [[Rainbow]], [[Flood]], [[Origin of Life]]).

 

===='''Magic'''====

| '''Magic'''

Many people have sought to use both magic and science in hopes of empowering humanity for an improvement and to achieve a clearer picture of humanity's place in the cosmos. In 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, ''The Two Faces of Jesus '' by Robin M. Jensen, ''Bible Review'', 17.8, Oct 2002 ''Understanding Early Christian Art''  by Robin M. Jensen, Routledge, 2000  as the centuries passed. (See: [[Images of Jesus]]) (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''.) There may be a persistent link between supernaturalism, the paranormal, and the desire for immortality ''The Psychology of Conviction: A Study of Beliefs and Attitudes'' by [[Joseph Jastrow]], Houghton Mifflin Co., 1918 ''Search for the Soul'' by [[Milbourne Christopher]], Thomas Y. Crowell, Publishers, 1979  

| Many people have sought to use both magic and science in hopes of empowering humanity for an improvement and to achieve a clearer picture of humanity's place in the cosmos. In 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, ''The Two Faces of Jesus '' by Robin M. Jensen, ''Bible Review'', 17.8, Oct 2002 ''Understanding Early Christian Art''  by Robin M. Jensen, Routledge, 2000  as the centuries passed. (See: [[Images of Jesus]]) (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''.) There may be a persistent link between supernaturalism, the paranormal, and the desire for immortality ''The Psychology of Conviction: A Study of Beliefs and Attitudes'' by [[Joseph Jastrow]], Houghton Mifflin Co., 1918 ''Search for the Soul'' by [[Milbourne Christopher]], Thomas Y. Crowell, Publishers, 1979  

 

===='''A word for unexplained events'''====

| '''A word for unexplained events'''

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

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

== Arguments in favor of a supernatural reality ==

== Arguments in favor of a supernatural reality ==