Is'nt the the supernatural unnatural, I mean god, ideas of life after death, superstition etc?
473054
In a sense, superstition is natural.  Gods and goddesses are fictional characters created by the human imagination. People have invented thousands of different deities throughout history - It's a common flaw in human nature, rather like the way we see optical illusions.\n\nScience has shown us that all biological life - including the human species - is the product of unthinking, undirected natural processes. As part of our evolutionary 'toolkit' of survival strategies, we have a highly developed awareness of other entities in our environment - We often notice human faces in carpet patterns, rabbit-shaped clouds and so on. There is more survival value in seeing what really *is* there, and also seeing some things that *aren't* really there, than in missing things that really are there and going hungry, or worse, ending up as someone else's lunch.\n\nThe consequence of this undeniably true aspect of human nature is that we have a natural tendency to imagine entities behind natural phenomena and events in our own lives that aren't really there - i.e. gods and goddesses, demons, angels, spirits - a whole menagerie of supernatural characters. Society and culture binds up these characters with our wishes and fears, our desires for dominance and submission and shared identity, and we end up with religious belief and ritual and dogma, in thousands of different flavours, with the vast majority of people broadly following the religion of their upbringing.\n\nReligion is a biological phenomenon, not a supernatural one.
611300
No!\nthere is nothing supernatural. Everything is part of nature, not beyond or outside or "super" nature. Whatever you see in a video or believe to see has a very natural explanation - maybe  science hasn't found all the answers, but we are working on it!!!!
877746
I believe in the existence of a life after death.But I don't believe that anyone can describe it accurately nor judge on who goes where and why.That is up to someone or something that is beyond our current level of understanding and our only guide is often mistranslated religious texts of various religions that may or may not hold guidance in a better way of life in order to gain a better life after death.but these texts and religious beliefs should never be used to try and judge others or behave with self righteous attitudes carried by self propaganda.
475317
I personally have had very few supernatural experiences, but one of the few was after I came through a particular long “spiritual wasteland experience” that had lasted two years.\n\nFor a few days, everywhere I looked outside, everything (clouds, hills, trees, etc.) was connected by long strands of glowing golden light – like the spiritual symbolism that everything is part of one fabric and interconnected, and I was looking at the fabric of reality itself, as God sees it.\n\nI did not try to force the vision, or “keep” it past its time, it faded within a few days, and I have never had it since.\n\nI know of two other religious experiences that happened to people I know – both are thinkers, one of them being healthily skeptical of such things. The first (now a pastor) had an unexpected encounter with a “possessed” person and cast a spirit out of him. The second was a missionary in Africa and supposedly was used by God to raise a child from the dead (!).\n\nBesides their analytical personalities, I give them both credit for another reason: Neither one really ever talks about what happened to them, unless you go to them and ask specifically, and even then they seem reluctant to discuss it. People tout how wonderful it is to be involved in miracles, but I think it's unsettling (as well as self-challenging) to actually be involved in such things.\n\nUsually someone who fabricates these things is involved in self-promotion, but these men are the opposite. So I give some weight to their words.
47423
"Any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic." Arthur C. Clarke.\n\nWhen I was younger, I read a LOT about witchcraft, ghosts, magic (not stage magic, which didn't interest me), superstition and similar subjects.  \n\nWhat I learned from all of this reading is that there is such a thing as magic...  but it has a firm foundation in how people think.  It is not "supernatural", it is natural.  We just don't know the full science behind it.  Shamans, I think, understood some of this, and also understood that approaching it rationally would make the magic weaker.
301952
Yes,Of course! According to various religious beliefs, there is definitely a new life after death. The bodies, after death, will be disposed off, but the life in the body, that is the soul, will be born again in another form, either as an animal or a human being again!. there are various instances wherein,some children have spoken of their earlier life with details,as to what he/she was in the previous birth, the location, parents, aquiatances, etc. On physical verification by impartial bodies, these have been found fully factual, and correct.
254756
IMHO, people resort to supernatural explanations for phenomena they don't understand because they don't have the patience for science to catch up with what is observed.\nSince the supernatural does not exist, I think it's intellectually dishonest to attribute the unexplained to it.  Coincidence does exist; the paranormal does not.
1151803
Yes indeed.  As part of our evolutionary 'toolkit' of survival strategies, we have a highly developed faculty for detecting other entities in our environment - We often notice human faces in carpet patterns, rabbit-shaped clouds and so on.  There is more survival value in seeing what really *is* there, and also seeing some things that *aren't* really there, than in missing things that really are there and going hungry, or worse, ending up as someone else's lunch.\n\nThe consequence of this undeniably true aspect of human nature is that we have a natural tendency to imagine entities behind natural phenomena and events in our own lives that aren't really there - i.e. gods and goddesses, demons, angels, spirits - a whole menagerie of supernatural characters.  Society and culture binds up these characters with our wishes and fears, our desires for dominance and submission and shared identity, and we end up with religious belief and ritual and dogma, in thousands of different flavours, with the vast majority of people broadly following the religion of their upbringing.\n\nReligion is a biological phenomenon, not a supernatural one.
477542
Dear episodes1979,\n\nI am neither fanatical nor ignorant, and, in fact, have done quite a bit of research on what we humans like to call "supernatural" or "miraculous".\nBased on what I know, I can make the certain conclusion that the universe is not merely limited to the existence of human beings.  We are important, but we are such a minute part of the creative force or energy that seems to surround us at all times.  The greatest of scientists and philosophers will tell you that there are far greater things, worlds, ideas, and concepts at work in our world than we can ever imagine.  Certainly, if there was such enormous energy that this whole galaxy evolved, why should it be limited just to animals, plants, and humans?  The main conclusion one can come to is that, yes, there are those beings, spiritual or physical or both, that are among us in different ways and realities.  And yet there are some completely natural phenomena that early uneducated man propagated as something supernatural and now we wonder what it may be.  Ultimately, everything can be explained scientifically or mathematically, even "ghosts" or "aliens". (As a matter of fact, we have come to call them "aliens", but all that it is is just other diverse life forms, some look like us, who have evolved in other galaxies, universes, etc.)  \nIt is not a fact of whether we believe or don't believe, but rather a fact of how open minded and adventurous we remain.  When we are born, nature provides us with a great openness of heart and mind and a great adventurousness for us to develop even more of it.  How sad it is that some would rather stick to the boring, simple concepts of Life as illustrated by the fact that we reason away our natural desire to be open and inquisitive.  I hope that people who read this will get encouraged on their search for truth.  Or for those who prefer otherwise, it is your choice after all and nobody should judge you for it, I hope you will one day truly investigate at least one of those things that seem to be "taboo" in our society to support (other life forms, us as spiritual beings existing in physical bodies, other mystical creatures).  After all, no matter what the truth is, the ultimate truth about our universe will always be there, and you will only get smarter and wiser if you dare to ask the hard questions and heartfully search for answers.
16550
Yes, God has made His presence known to me a couple times in my life.  I've also had some interesting occurances transpire that lead me to believe in the strong possibility of life after death.  It makes sense to me that our energy transfers to a different state.  Seems scientifically plausible, but it goes beyond our realm of understanding.
18057
The existance of an afterlife is something I am so not qualified to answer, since I have only known this one.  I'd hate to burst peoples' bubbles, but i doubt there is a heaven or hell.  So call me a heathen, whatever, I surely believe in some divine creator... But the reason humans invented such ornate tales is to firstly keep people in line.  People do good and hope for reward.  Secondly, they believe so that the loss of a loved one can be comforted.  I feel that people should find their comforts in other ways.  Death is not a tragety really.  People want something to look forward to.  Thirdly, some might say arrogance; that humans are somehow above all other lifeforms and part of them lives for all eternity.  The forth reason people believe in an afterlife is fear.  Death is one of the most feared things, along with pain and failure.  Why is it feared?  Because no one truly knows what happens.  That's why people might cling to religious descriptions, which are also rather vague and hold few actual details.  So, believe whatever you wish my friend, but there's my two cents.
1038979
i am very tollerant of other peoples religion on the condition that they don`t try and shove it down my throat! my beleifs can`t really be put into a neat little box. maybe i could say i beleive in Katherineism?! (my name is Katherine) i beleive everything happens for a reason, we will meet all our departed loved ones when we die, there is some higher power or force up there, i`m just not sure if it`s god? Also, the spirits of departed loved ones show themselves in the form of birds.  i`m going to keep checking your answers, because i`m also interested in other people spiritual beleifs.
978618
No, Its human nature to want to believe in heaven and hell or other afterlifes but its just not practical to believe in them. The sooner you acpect are fates the sooner you can live your life to the fullest rather than seeing this life as some sort of test
1052155
Supernatural, metaphysical and what not...I think people have different reasons for believing them but my gut feeling is that nature is so incredibly amazing and beautiful (like you said) that it surpasses the worldliness that we are saturated in in these times; thus, one cannot help but be moved by something so deep, so profound and so fundamental in nature that one may be inclined to seek the source of this beauty.  I think that's where people look towards that which is beyond our corporeal borders and the limits of scientific explanation for what we feel is sometimes so strong that we know there isn't always an explanation for it...but those are just my opinions...\n\nGood question.
1015093
Hi there,\n\nI believe that nature is impersonal, and is naturally unfolding.\n\nI believe that things are not really good or evil, small or large, together or seperate, these are just human concepts.  However, this doesn't change the fact that our chemistry produces 'feelings' and it doesn't therefore change the way our reasoning works.  The universe simply is, no more no less.\n\nI believe in being good to people because I understand the consequences as if it were done to me - as I don't value myself above anyone or anything else - indeed I see myself as simply part of something else, I am not seperate from my surroundings.  I don't need the treat of eternal hell fire or the promise of eternal bliss to make me do/be 'good'.\n\nI see too much unintelligent design & too much injustice to believe in a creator, the evidence & logic to me points towards an impersonal creation.\n\nI think it's great as it means we are not bound to live our life in one particular way whether we like it or not.\n\nI think it's great I can devote my time and intention to living a virtuous and humble life rather than devote my time worshipping a god.  Indeed if there is a god, it doesn't need my worship.\n\nWorrying about life-after death can detract from the life experience is something I believe as well.
25464
Your question assumes that I have a life now.  People keep telling me to get a life, so I might have a problem answering you. :-P\n\nSeriously, whether you believe there is life after death depends on what you believe about religion.  If there is a God, then there is a good chance that we have a soul that survives after death.  If there is no God, then it's less certain.\n\nIt's hard to tell whether there is a spiritual world around and beyond us that we can't see.  Despite a lot of testing, no scientist has ever found a ghost, or confirmed a miracle.  But, there are many stories told by people whose bodies have died for a short time and then been brought back to life by doctors.  All of these people tell the same story, even though they've never met.  They all went through a sort of tunnel of light, moving upward to a place of great peace and joy.  Some describe reaching that place briefly and encountering God.  If you are interested in these "near-death experiences," I recommend that you read the work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, who took down many such stories.\n\nYou also have to take into account all of the reports of miracles and visions that people have experienced throughout history, and continue to experience today.  Scientists have found non-spiritual explanations for some of these things, but not all of them.  They all point toward the existence of God (or many gods), and many of the visions describe an afterlife.\n\nYour question leads to another important question: Since we do not know for certain whether there is an afterlife, how should we live in this life?  Should we live in the way we think is "good," even if it's sometimes hard; or should we go ahead and do whatever we want to do?\n\nThe brilliant French mathematician, Blaise Pascal, looked at your question hundreds of years ago.  He came up with a solution, which is known as "Pascal's Wager."  ("Wager" is another word for "bet.")  Pascal, who was a Christian, believed that the Bible contained God's advice for how to live.  He figured that if there was a God, then God's advice for how to live must be "good."  He also figured that, if there was no God, then there probably was no afterlife, either.\n\nHe said: "Okay.  Let's say that I live my life in a good way.  If there is no afterlife, then my life on Earth will be okay, but uncomfortable at times.  If there is an afterlife, then I will go to Heaven.\n\n"Now, let's say that I don't live in a good way.  If there is no afterlife, then I've had an okay life with no discomfort, because I've done whatever I wanted to do.  But if there is an afterlife, then I will go to Hell.\n\n"So, if I live a good life, the best thing that can happen is that I'll go to Heaven.  At worst, I'll have an okay life with some pains in the butt.  If I live a 'bad' life, the very best thing that can happen is an okay life with no pains in the butt.  At worst, I'll go to Hell.\n\n"No matter what, if I'm good I'll come out way better, or at worst only a little worse-off, than I will if I'm bad.  So, I'll be good."\n\nThat's how Blaise Pascal figured out that, regardless of whether there's an afterlife, it's better to live according to a set of good rules than to go around doing whatever you want.  People all around the world still follow his advice today.
786468
wow what a surprise another question posted without a person doing research themselves into what they've said:\n\nAngels, demons,Jinn, sprits , cosmic eneries , the higher self the collective counciousness need anymore examples , many systems of belief accept that these entrities occupy different spaces between man n god ,