supernaturalism
- noun
- /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəlɪzəm/
- They believed that Spiritualism convinced materialists of the truth of supernaturalism and thereby led to Catholicism.
- supernaturalism versus naturalism
Examples
-
To those of more limited historical perspective who still doubt supernaturalism's decline, the author points to the current proliferation of Christian tolerance for disbelief.
Academic text (2011) -
Instead of the death of God, we should speak of a more individualist supernaturalism.
Academic text (2000) -
The main problem with the received tradition, Buck charged, was supernaturalism.
Academic text (2003) -
For a time, even supernaturalism and spiritism became popular.
Academic text (1998) -
Rather, supernaturalism, or the confusion of ideals and powers, was accountable for these things.
Academic text (1990) -
Central to the culture wars is the conflict between science and faith and, derivatively, between naturalism and supernaturalism.
Academic text (2006) -
Unbounded supernaturalism is seen as credulity at best, superstition at worst.
Academic text (1993) -
Our Christianity or Judaism, for example, may remain culturally thick, though varied, without any semblance of supernaturalism.
Academic text (1990) -
Oelschlaeger evaluates a transition in Western thought from supernaturalism to materialism to a plea for an interpretation of human-land relationships that again includes the supernatural.
Academic text (1993) -
Many cultures believe in supernaturalism as a way to explain events that cannot be understood through science.
Synonyms
Beliefs about secret supernatural powers and practices
The study and practice of magic and secret powers
Belief that God or a spirit actively changes events in human life
Antonyms
- Formal
The belief that the world can be explained by science without spiritual causes
How Supernatural
- US
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
supernaturalism = supernatural (transparent) = super + natural + ism
Formed by adding the productive noun-forming suffix '-ism' to 'supernatural', yielding a doctrine or belief related to the supernatural.
Etymology
The word supernaturalism comes from super- meaning 'above' or 'beyond', plus natural meaning 'nature', and the ending -ism that shows a 'belief'. So supernaturalism is the idea that some events come from forces 'beyond' nature, like spirits or gods.