Linked Glossary of Terms


Supernaturalism depends on a dualism. It is based on a view of “nature” that includes only some of the aspects of temporal reality. It is related to the religious Ground-Motive of Nature and Grace.

Dooyeweerd is opposed to any mysticism that assumes some kind of supernatural cognition (NC II, 562, 563). I believe that his opposition is based on the fact that this would involve a dualism.

Baader is also opposed to any supernaturalism, and to any separation between nature and supernature (Zeit 57). Theologians who speak of supernaturalism try to give a theory of the world from a perspective of supernaturalism where power, glory and freedom are opposed to our powerless imprisonment in nature (Begründung 54). They separate the will from its unconscious drives, and they regard the creature as pure Intelligence, as a Will and a Reason without desires or senses (Begründung 34). But in making this distinction, they confuse the suprarational (the transcendent) with something that is against nature or against reason (Begründung 22, 34, 66). Supernaturalism sees spirituality as literally sense-less (Werke IX, 64f; citedSauer 35). This is a kind of spiritualizing that he opposes.

Revised Dec 27/04; Dec 24/16