overnaturlige

Overnaturlige is a Norwegian term for phenomena and beings believed to lie beyond the ordinary laws of nature. The concept is broad and varies across cultures, but in general it covers ghosts and spirits, miracles and divine apparitions, as well as purported psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis, and a range of magical beings found in folklore and myth. The meaning of the term is shaped by religious, cultural, and historical contexts, and what is considered supernatural often changes over time.

In historical and contemporary contexts, overnaturlige phenomena are described in literature, folklore, religious texts, and popular culture. Folk beliefs include revenants, witches, fairies, and otherworldly messengers, while modern accounts may refer to haunted places, near-death experiences, or extraordinary mental or perceptual experiences. The topic intersects with fields such as folklore studies, theology, and parapsychology, and it appears in genres from myth to film and tourism.

From a scientific perspective, overnaturlige phenomena are typically treated with skepticism because claims are difficult to test and reproduce under controlled conditions. Parapsychology studies claimed psychic abilities, but its results are contested, and mainstream science has not established reliable evidence for supernatural forces. Explanations often emphasize psychological biases, misperception, environmental factors, or misinterpretation of natural phenomena.

See also: parapsychology, folklore, religious studies, ghost lore, cryptids. The term remains widely used in everyday speech and cultural discourse to describe experiences or stories perceived as beyond the natural world.