What are your thoughts on the validity of the following way of thinking?
The definition of "supernatural" is basically anything that goes beyond the natural in regards to what is possible within the laws of physics. With that in mind, the supernatural cannot have any affect on the natural world that went beyond the laws of physics, as that would then make whatever it affected supernatural also. Either everything in our universe is natural and bound by the laws of physics, or else it is all supernatural and there is no way to predict anything at all about it's behavior.
2007-11-21 03:23:58 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
On the logical leap and the dichotomy, I would like to hear more detail. What are the other options than my dichotomy, and what step is missing in the logic?
2007-11-21 03:29:31 · update #1
As for figuring out the natural laws, that should be moot.
If it follows natural laws, then it is not supernatural, whether we understand those laws or not.
2007-11-21 03:31:20 · update #2
You are taking for granted that the "laws of physics" are an absolute. By that I mean that the way we understand them is correct and complete.
Check out the new quantum theories about the start of the universe by an energy/matter burst from another membrane. And their 10 dimensions plus 1. The first one brings many past disproofs (matter/energy cannot be created/destroyed but only converted) back into examination because we have a new source for both which we were not aware of. And the second one brings up interesting possibilities for strang contacts which we cannot yet measure or study.
Maybe if you said that supernatural is beyond the natural which we understand so far?
2007-11-21 03:36:43 · answer #1 · answered by ????? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm... No, I don't think I could agree with that. The best analogy I can come up with at the moment would be from Euclidean geometry.
Certain things are possible in 3 dimensions that are not possible in 2. For instance, if there were 2 dimensional beings and a cylinder intersected their world, all they would see would be a circle. With only 3 dimensions, solids could exist (sort of), but there could be no movement because there's no time or duration. So if there's a 5th dimension (M-Theory math requires 11-14), objects or actions there would or could intersect our 4-space in a way that would be supernatural to the laws of physics here.
2007-11-21 03:35:51 · answer #2 · answered by r_moulton76 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The last line is a logical leap.
Yes there is a natural world and supernatural world. But doesnt mean you cant have both together. But you correct that the supernatural cannot affect the natural.
2007-11-21 03:27:25 · answer #3 · answered by Menon R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I tend to disagree with your definition of supernatural. Many supernatural events could occur in the laws of physics with the caveat that they are highly unlikely to ever occur naturally.
Not sure about anything affected beyond the laws of physics having to become supernatural. Disassembling a rock and flinging it's component molecules to another location and then reassembling it would not mandate that the rock had become supernatural.
The conclusion is not mandated/proved by the preceding statements.
2007-11-21 03:33:38 · answer #4 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Partly right. However, the assumption that the supernatural, has no effect on the natural world is far from accurate. For example, the human body is physical and bound to the natural. However, your soul and spirit are supernatural, yet has a great bearing on the physical by how you interact in the natural world.
How the supernatural interacts with the physical is where people get most tripped up in regard to the Bible. A good example is the trinity. Most try to gain an understanding of the trinity based on the natural, or physical. But one should never look upon God as only limited to 4 dimensions. They fail to understand that a tree is more than its trunk and branches, there are roots where you can not see that plunge beneath the surface of our reality. If we limit God to what we see or understand, we will miss the depth of who He is. Yes, Jesus was here on earth in the form of man, and yes, as a tree, He was cut down. But beneath the surface of our present reality is the glory of God Himself, and even He, as Messiah, was called "the Branch" which in Hebrew is the little sapling that pops up out of the trunk of a fallen tree.
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
2007-11-21 03:27:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The distinction most theists would draw is that the universe and all within it is natural, but that god exists outside of it (though able to interact within it) and is therefore beyond the natural, or supernatural. Something akin to saying that everything in a computer program operates according to the rules of that program with no exceptions, but the person that did the programming exists outside of the program, can alter the program, and is not subject to the rules of the program in the same way.
2016-05-24 21:38:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont think so-it is good to think though--one man magic is another man technology-supernatural is a null word-there are no natural laws-there is our limited understanding of what is possible and from that we make this laws but they are subject to change as our knowledge increases--just my thoughts-smile and enjoy the day
2007-11-21 03:36:01 · answer #7 · answered by lazaruslong138 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are assuming that right now we have figured out all the "natural" laws, and so we can determine what is "supernatural".
2007-11-21 03:28:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If a guy spontaneously created gold from nothing, that doesn't automatically make all gold in the universe supernatural, only the portion that was spontaneously created.
2007-11-21 03:28:03 · answer #9 · answered by 006 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God has given us knowledge about the universe and we can know what is going to happen.
Faith works.
Sin brings judgment. We can see God carrying out the judgment against sin in the natural world.
We know that this world is coming to the end and that it will soon be a boiling cauldron of molten rock, a lake of fire.
We know that those who turn to God and trust in him through the blood that Jesus Christ shed at Calvary will be saved.
2007-11-21 03:36:00 · answer #10 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋