what is "Supernatural?"

[OldWiseGuy]

I recall responding to another thread on this topic. This is my definition:

Based on your conclusion everything mankind does and thinks is 'supernatural', i.e. "completely illogical and contrary to reason."

 

[jayem]

Based on your conclusion everything mankind does and thinks is 'supernatural', i.e. "completely illogical and contrary to reason."

Well, that's how I see it. If something is supposedly beyond, or outside the realm of matter/energy and the fundamental forces, I don't see by what possible mechanism it can reach into the natural world and affect events. It's not part of nature, but it can alter nature. To me, that's a totally bizarre logical contradiction.

 

[durangodawood]

Well, that's how I see it. If something is supposedly beyond, or outside the realm of matter/energy and the fundamental forces, I don't see by what possible mechanism it can reach into the natural world and affect events. It's not part of nature, but it can alter nature. To me, that's a totally bizarre logical contradiction.

Maybe the supernatural is just natural things that also have an extension into some beyond natural-as-we-know-it realm. Like they are things with 4 or 19 spatial dimensions, or something analogous?

 

[jayem]

Maybe the supernatural is just natural things that also have an extension into some beyond natural-as-we-know-it realm. Like they are things with 4 or 19 spatial dimensions, or something analogous?

Maybe something like the 11 dimensions of M theory. But where are these extra dimensions? It sounds like science fiction. My rudimentary understanding is that the multiple dimensions are necessary to make the math work. And getting back to the OP, how could any supernatural force or entity ever be described mathematically? If supernatural events occur, they are capricious. They happen sporadically with no predictability. I can't imagine how something behaving like that could be studied or understood analytically.

 

[durangodawood]

Maybe something like the 11 dimensions of M theory. But where are these extra dimensions? It sounds like science fiction. My rudimentary understanding is that the multiple dimensions are necessary to make the math work. And getting back to the OP, how could any supernatural force or entity ever be described mathematically? If supernatural events occur, they are capricious. They happen sporadically with no predictability. I can't imagine how something behaving like that could be studied or understood analytically.

Presumably, many supernatural events are willed by supernatural beings. Not sure that, even in 3-space, the human will can be completely modeled mathematically. How much less so for for a "higher" more complex being?

 

[Resha Caner]

Maybe the supernatural is just natural things that also have an extension into some beyond natural-as-we-know-it realm.

Maybe something like the 11 dimensions of M theory.

I'm not convinced we can define "natural" without it either devolving into a circle or being synonymous with "everything". So, I'm not sure it's worth the attempt to add prefixes to the word.