Supernatural

The term supernatural describes phenomena or entities that exist beyond the laws of nature.

While the word "nature" has existed since antiquity, the specific concept of the supernatural emerged later. It refers to things that do not follow the physical rules of our world. This includes non-physical entities like spirits, angels, demons, and gods. It also encompasses claimed abilities such as magic, telekinesis, levitation, and extrasensory perception. Because religions are often standardized supernaturalist worldviews, the supernatural is considered a hypernym of religion. This means religion is a specific type of supernatural belief system.

Understanding the mechanism of the supernatural involves looking at how it relates to natural laws. In philosophy, nomological possibility refers to what is possible under the actual laws of nature. Most philosophers since David Hume have argued that these laws are metaphysically contingent. This means the laws could have been different than they are now. For example, traveling faster than light might be impossible under our current laws. However, it is not logically impossible if the laws were different. Scientists often assume something is impossible based on extensive evidence and successful theories. Yet, a single counterexample could refute these scientific assertions and force a re-examination of the theory.

There are several ways to view the relationship between the natural and the supernatural. One view sees them as distinct and separate. In this perspective, some events follow natural laws while others follow external principles. This is often seen in Scholasticism, where God could perform miracles that did not cause logical contradictions. Another view suggests that the supernatural and the natural are actually indistinct. Some religions believe in immanent deities that exist within the natural world. Other traditions suggest that everything happens through the will of a divine reality, a concept known as occasionalism. A different view, called nondualism, sees everything as part of one fundamental reality.

Some thinkers propose a different idea called incorrect human attribution. In this view, all events have purely natural causes. They believe humans simply assign supernatural attributes to natural phenomena. For instance, people might call lightning or rainbows supernatural forces. Anthropological studies show that many cultures do not separate these two explanations. Instead, they use both natural and supernatural ideas to explain the world. People often use both to understand complex topics like illness, death, or origins. This coexistence of explanations is a normal part of human cognition.

The history of the concept is tied to the development of Western theology. The ancient world did not have a word that resembled "supernatural." The term comes from Medieval Latin, combining roots meaning "above" or "beyond" nature. The earliest English appearance was around 1425 in a translation of Catherine of Siena's work. Originally, the term referred exclusively to Christian understandings of the world. In the 12th century, the scholastic Peter Lombard explored causes beyond nature. He used the term "praeter naturam" to describe these occurrences. Later, in the 1200s, Thomas Aquinas used the term "supernaturalis." Aquinas helped create a clear distinction by classifying miracles into three categories: "above nature," "beyond nature," and "against nature."

Deities are a major part of supernatural belief systems. A deity is a being considered divine or sacred. A male deity is called a god, while a female is a goddess. Religions are categorized by how many deities they worship. Monotheistic religions accept only one deity, often referred to as God. Polytheistic religions worship multiple deities. Henotheistic religions accept one supreme deity but do not deny the existence of others. Nontheistic religions may deny a supreme creator but accept a pantheon of deities. These deities vary greatly; for example, Hindu deities may not possess the omnipotence attributed to the monotheistic God.

Angels are another significant type of supernatural entity. In Abrahamic religions and Zoroastrianism, angels are often benevolent celestial beings. They act as intermediaries between Heaven and Earth. Their roles include protecting humans, guiding them, and carrying out divine tasks.

In some traditions, angels are organized into complex hierarchies. Beyond angels, other cultures see deities in different forms. In some Indian religions, deities can manifest within the human body or mind. They may also be part of a cycle of rebirth known as Saṃsāra. In this view, beings can become guardian deities after living an ethical life.