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Supernatural vs. Mundane

SigurdReginson

Grēne Mann
Premium Member
If a supernatural claim could be repeated and varified via scientific experimentation, would it become a mundane aspect of reality?

Like... If we discovered a material, and we were able to create a lens with it that allowed us to view "the spirit world" (whatever that is), would that world cease being considered super natural, as we could understand and explore it? Would we then classify that "world" as some kind of dimension? How would that play out, I wonder?
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
If a supernatural claim could be repeated and varified via scientific experimentation, would it become a mundane aspect of reality?

Like... If we discovered a material, and we were able to create a lens with it that allowed us to view "the spirit world" (whatever that is), would that world cease being considered super natural, as we could understand and explore it? Would we then classify that "world" as some kind of dimension? How would that play out, I wonder?

No such thing as "super"natural, the spirit world is the natural world, and vice versa. The notion of a natural beyond nature always confused me.

Supernatural events/things are just things we don't currently understand fully. Such as Dark Matter.
 

Secret Chief

nirvana is samsara
No such thing as "super"natural, the spirit world is the natural world, and vice versa. The notion of a natural beyond nature always confused me.

Supernatural events/things are just things we don't currently understand fully. Such as Dark Matter.
^^^^This.
 

Altfish

Veteran Member
If a supernatural claim could be repeated and varified via scientific experimentation, would it become a mundane aspect of reality?

Like... If we discovered a material, and we were able to create a lens with it that allowed us to view "the spirit world" (whatever that is), would that world cease being considered super natural, as we could understand and explore it? Would we then classify that "world" as some kind of dimension? How would that play out, I wonder?
Why is everything that is not supernatural classified as mundane?

The Solar System is not supernatural but is far from mundane
 

George-ananda

Advaita Vedanta, Theosophy, Spiritualism
Premium Member
If a supernatural claim could be repeated and varified via scientific experimentation, would it become a mundane aspect of reality?

Like... If we discovered a material, and we were able to create a lens with it that allowed us to view "the spirit world" (whatever that is), would that world cease being considered super natural, as we could understand and explore it? Would we then classify that "world" as some kind of dimension? How would that play out, I wonder?

supernatural

ADJECTIVE
  1. (of a manifestation or event) attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.
    "a supernatural being"
    synonyms:
    paranormal · psychic · magic · magical · occult · mystic · mystical
I would say if science did not know what this spirit world is or how this lens worked, the term 'supernatural' could still be used. Word like 'supernatural' have no perfect definition
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
This question/conclusion is one of the problems with substance dualism as a worldview. It is very black and white; very either-or. It doesn't allow for both-and, much less third, fourth, fifth, or any other sort of more complex state. This is an important foundational assumption about dualism to understand - how it limits conclusions one can draw, how it shapes how one sees reality. It is neither correct nor incorrect as a model. Sometimes either-or is all one needs for a given purpose.
 

Bear Wild

Well-Known Member
No such thing as "super"natural, the spirit world is the natural world, and vice versa. The notion of a natural beyond nature always confused me.

Supernatural events/things are just things we don't currently understand fully. Such as Dark Matter.

Well put. Everything we know and experience and all that influences us is within the natural world. We may not be aware or understand of all that influences us but it is all within our incredible natural world.
 

TagliatelliMonster

Veteran Member
If a supernatural claim could be repeated and varified via scientific experimentation, would it become a mundane aspect of reality?

Like... If we discovered a material, and we were able to create a lens with it that allowed us to view "the spirit world" (whatever that is), would that world cease being considered super natural, as we could understand and explore it? Would we then classify that "world" as some kind of dimension? How would that play out, I wonder?

Yep!

That's kind of the irony of it all.

It kind of means that whenever the word "supernatural" is being used, what is really meant is "that which can't be shown to exist" to the point of "that which can't logically exist" or even "that which is impossible to exist".


Because what is a "miracle"? It's pretty much the same as "magic". Actual magic. Harry Potter magic - not David Copperfield magic.

It's things that happen which defy / ignore / violate the laws of nature / physics.

We have a word for that. It's called "impossible".

When we say of something that it is "impossible", what we really mean is that it would violate the laws of nature if it would occur.

Like when I drop my keys. It is "impossible" for my keys to not fall to earth and shoot into space instead. Because that would violate gravity.


A "miracle", or a "supernatural event", is an event which is impossible but which happens anyway.


I like to extend that to the argument of "god exists outside of the universe". If this god exists, then he must exist in some realm. A realm which existed prior to the universe. This realm would necessary have to be a "place" that is part of the totality of "existence". And god himself would be part of the totality of "existence".

The idea of "god has created everything" can thus never be true. God himself necessarily is part of some existence.

This is the problem when you posit a complex agent at the "beginning of everything". You're still left with this agent, as well as the realm it resides in, as being part of existence. Which would itself be part of "everything".

It makes zero sense and can only be "defended" with circular reasoning and special pleading.
 
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