Nonsupernatural

Nonsupernatural is a term used to describe explanations or claims that do not invoke supernatural beings or forces. It is used in philosophy, religious studies, and scientific discourse to contrast with supernatural explanations such as miracles, divine intervention, or other metaphysical acts.

In practice, nonsupernatural explanations appeal to natural causes that can be tested and verified, including empirical observation, physical processes, and psychological or social factors. In science, this stance aligns with methodological naturalism, which assumes natural causation for inquiry even if some questions remain unresolved. It is often discussed separately from metaphysical positions about the existence of non-natural realities.

The term is typically used to distinguish a stance that rejects supernatural causes from one that accepts them. However, nonsupernatural does not automatically entail a commitment to naturalism about ultimate reality; it can be employed as a methodological or explanatory neutral label without asserting the nonexistence of non-natural entities. Some scholars prefer terms such as naturalistic, secular, or non-metaphysical to describe related positions.

Examples of nonsupernatural reasoning include explanations for alleged miracles based on misperception, fraud, psychological factors, or statistical probability rather than direct divine action. In historical and contemporary debates, the nonsupernatural approach is often contrasted with supernaturalist interpretations of events or phenomena.

Limitations and usage notes: the label can be ambiguous or context-dependent, since what counts as natural or supernatural can vary by definition. As such, nonsupernatural is more common as a descriptive descriptor in discourse than as a formal school of thought, and it is frequently considered alongside related concepts like naturalism and secularism.