What's the difference between supernatural and non-existent?

Question

Nature, broadly defined, is that which can be observed or inferred mathematically. If something can't be observed or inferred, how is it existent?

Atlas: "Invisible" tertiary observations through technical equipment are still observations.

Answer 1

"Super-natural" and "metaphysics" both address the same topic: parts of reality that (as yet) cannot be weighed or measured in the normal scientific observatory methods, and yet exist. This covers anything of a mental/emotional/spiritual nature, especially anything connected to a "spiritual" realm.

Just because something cannot be inferred or measured mathematically, that does not mean it does not exist. How much does love weigh? How high does happiness go? How deep is sadness? How big is the dimention next to our own? How many angels are there? Saying that these things don't exist because the chosen method of measurement "won't work" is pure nonsense: it is like saying granite doesn't exist because it cannot be measured in units of blue...

Put another way, scientists don't measure volume in lumens, or light out-put in miles per hour. In turn, theologians don't measure the morality of kilometers. The two worlds are not necessarily in conflict, they are just different.

I will disagree with your use of the word "observed", as in "experienced by a human individual". There have been plenty of observations made during history, and many were recorded for posterity. The lack of a local scientists' documentation and testing of the experience does not negate that experience.

Answer 2

Perhaps the angle of observation is so wide and the effects so weak we cannot properly measure it, like the sun's magnetic field. We didn't know it was there for the longest time.

Also our satellites cannot detect electric currents in space but we see their effects with the auroras.

It was a comparison. But I'm of the opinion that God exists, anyway. It's just the story goes deeper than that Bible book.

Answer 3

I think they're synonyms. It's fun to think and read books and watch movies about supernatural things, but they just aren't real.