Supernatural Beings: A Comprehensive Guide, Study notes of Natural Science

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Supernatural Beings

Supernatural Beings

Supernatural

Supernatural

Websters Websters

LL

super super

nautura nautura

nature. nature.

1: of or relating to God or a 1: of or relating to God or a

god, demigod, spirit or devil god, demigod, spirit or devil

. 2: a . 2: a

departing from what is usual or departing from what is usual or

normal, esp. to transcend the laws of nature. b: attributed to a normal, esp. to transcend the laws of nature. b: attributed to a

ghost, ghost,

spirit or devil. spirit or devil.

Wikipedia Wikipedia

: In the case of one who has strong scientific and atheist : In the case of one who has strong scientific and atheist

beliefs, beliefs,

the supernatural is anything unexplainable by natural the supernatural is anything unexplainable by natural

law or phenomena law or phenomena

In secular societies, In secular societies,

religious miracles are typically perceived as religious miracles are typically perceived as

supernatural claims, as well as spells and curses, divination, supernatural claims, as well as spells and curses, divination,

the afterlife and many others the afterlife and many others

Such beliefs have existed in many cultures throughout human Such beliefs have existed in many cultures throughout human

history. history.

Supernatural: Beings

Supernatural: Beings

Free Online Dictionary: Free Online Dictionary:

 

Supernatural beings believed to have powers to affect the courseSupernatural beings believed to have powers to affect the course

ofof

human eventshuman events

 

BeliefBelief

• –

any cognitive content held as trueany cognitive content held as true

 

deity, divinity, god, immortaldeity, divinity, god, immortal

any supernatural being worshipped as any supernatural being worshipped as

controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who

is theis the

personification of a force personification of a force

 

angelangel

• –

spiritual being attendant upon monotheistic God or polytheisticspiritual being attendant upon monotheistic God or polytheistic

gods gods

Yahoo Answers: What are some supernatural beings? Yahoo Answers: What are some supernatural beings?

Best answers: dragons, fairies, mermaids, nymphs, harpies Best answers: dragons, fairies, mermaids, nymphs, harpies

half half

woman and half bird, shadow hunters, angels, pixies, dyads, woman and half bird, shadow hunters, angels, pixies, dyads,

gnomes, goblins, griffins gnomes, goblins, griffins

half eagle and half lion, Centaurs half eagle and half lion, Centaurs

half half

horse half human, leprechauns, zombies, vampires, sprites, horse half human, leprechauns, zombies, vampires, sprites,

unicorns, ghosts, werewolves, wizards, witches, ogres, oracles a unicorns, ghosts, werewolves, wizards, witches, ogres, oracles a

nd nd

trolls. trolls.

Supernatural: Beings 2

Supernatural: Beings 2

In all mythologies the principal actors in the drama of cosmic In all mythologies the principal actors in the drama of cosmic

creation begin as spirit beings so fundamental or so awe creation begin as spirit beings so fundamental or so awe

inspiring,inspiring,

or both, as to be describable only as generalities. or both, as to be describable only as generalities.

Native North Americans refer to the All Spirit or Great Mystery Native North Americans refer to the All Spirit or Great Mystery

(For(For

example, example,

Wakan Wakan

TankaTanka

, the great spirit of the Lakota Sioux). , the great spirit of the Lakota Sioux).

The Hindu creator divinity is Brahma, whose name means the The Hindu creator divinity is Brahma, whose name means the

Absolute. Absolute.

Amma, the original creator god of the African Dogon myth, is sai Amma, the original creator god of the African Dogon myth, is sai

d to d to

mean The One Who Holds. mean The One Who Holds.

God is a word of disputed etymology, but probably derives from a God is a word of disputed etymology, but probably derives from a

term meaning the Worshipped One. term meaning the Worshipped One.

Other Supreme Creators 2

Other Supreme Creators 2

After the great snake, the next actor to appear on the

After the great snake, the next actor to appear on the

mythological scene is often

mythological scene is often

another gigantic being

another gigantic being

though this time with recognizably

though this time with recognizably

human

human

characteristics.

characteristics.

Chinese creator god Pan

Chinese creator god Pan

Gu

Gu

, previously discussed, is a, previously discussed, is a

good example.

good example.

Other early members of the Chinese pantheon appear

Other early members of the Chinese pantheon appear

as partly

as partly

animal and partly human

animal and partly human

for

for

example, the

example, the

creator couple Fu Xi and

creator couple Fu Xi and

Nu

Nu

Gua

Gua

may be portrayed with

may be portrayed with

combined human and serpentine bodies.

combined human and serpentine bodies.

Deity

Deity

Websters Websters

LL

deus deus

god, Gk god, Gk

diosdios

heavenly. 1 heavenly. 1

aa

: the rank or essential : the rank or essential

nature of a god : DIVINITY b: nature of a god : DIVINITY b:

cap cap

: GOD 1: SUPREME BEING 2 : a : GOD 1: SUPREME BEING 2 : a

god or goddess (the god or goddess (the

deities deities

of ancient Greece) 3 : one exalted or of ancient Greece) 3 : one exalted or

revered as supremely good or powerful. revered as supremely good or powerful.

Wikipedia Wikipedia

: A deity is a postulated preternatural or : A deity is a postulated preternatural or

supernatural supernatural

immortal immortal

being who may be thought of as holy, divine or sacred being who may be thought of as holy, divine or sacred

held in high regard, and respected by believers, often religious held in high regard, and respected by believers, often religious

ly ly

referred to as a referred to as a

god. god.

Notable deities include Tsui Goab (African tribal), Mangar Notable deities include Tsui Goab (African tribal), Mangar

kunierkunier

kunja (Australian aboriginal), Shiva (Hindu), Yuanshi Tianzun (C kunja (Australian aboriginal), Shiva (Hindu), Yuanshi Tianzun (C

hina hina

Taoism), Ra (Egypt), Zeus (Greek), Anu (Sumerian), Ahura Mazda Taoism), Ra (Egypt), Zeus (Greek), Anu (Sumerian), Ahura Mazda

(old Iranian Zoroastrian), Vesta (Roman goddess of the hearth), (old Iranian Zoroastrian), Vesta (Roman goddess of the hearth),

Odin (Norse), Yahweh (Hebrew Biblical), Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), Ik Odin (Norse), Yahweh (Hebrew Biblical), Quetzalcoatl (Aztec), Ik

a a

Omkara (India Sikhism), Exu (African Yorba) and others. Omkara (India Sikhism), Exu (African Yorba) and others.

Deities 2

Deities 2

Wilipedia Wilipedia

: Some deities are thought to be invisible or inaccessible to : Some deities are thought to be invisible or inaccessible to

humans, dwelling mainly in humans, dwelling mainly in

otherworldly, remote or secluded and holy otherworldly, remote or secluded and holy

places, places,

such as heaven, hell, the sky, the under such as heaven, hell, the sky, the under

world, under the sea, in the world, under the sea, in the

high mountains or deep forests, or in a supernatural plane or ce high mountains or deep forests, or in a supernatural plane or ce

lestial lestial

sphere. sphere.

Deities are depicted in a variety of forms, but are also frequen Deities are depicted in a variety of forms, but are also frequen

tly expressed tly expressed

by having by having

human or animal form human or animal form

. .

They are They are

usually immortal usually immortal

, and are commonly assumed to have , and are commonly assumed to have

personalities and to possess consciousness, intellects, desires personalities and to possess consciousness, intellects, desires

and and

emotions similar to those of humans. emotions similar to those of humans.

Such natural phenomena as Such natural phenomena as

lightning, floods, storms, other “acts of lightning, floods, storms, other “acts of

God” and miracles are attributed to them God” and miracles are attributed to them

, and they may be thought to be , and they may be thought to be

authorities or controllers of various aspects of human life (suc authorities or controllers of various aspects of human life (suc

h as birth or h as birth or

the afterlife). the afterlife).

Deities 3

Deities 3

The boundary between the human and the divine in most cultures i The boundary between the human and the divine in most cultures i

s by no s by no

means absolute. Demigods are the offspring from a union of a hum means absolute. Demigods are the offspring from a union of a hum

an with a an with a

deity, and deity, and

most royal houses in antiquity claimed divine ancestors. most royal houses in antiquity claimed divine ancestors.

Beginning with Beginning with

Djedefra Djedefra

( (

th th

century BCE), the century BCE), the

Egyptian pharaohs Egyptian pharaohs

called called

themselves “Son of Ra” as well as “Bull (son) of his Mother,” am themselves “Son of Ra” as well as “Bull (son) of his Mother,” am

ong their ong their

many titles. (My note: many titles. (My note:

The shaman of Neolithic times has gained The shaman of Neolithic times has gained

status status

) )

Some human rulers, such as the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, the Some human rulers, such as the pharaohs of the New Kingdom, the

Japanese Tennos and some Roman Emperors have been Japanese Tennos and some Roman Emperors have been

worshiped by worshiped by

their subjects as deities while still alive. their subjects as deities while still alive.

The The

earliest ruler known to have claimed divinity earliest ruler known to have claimed divinity

is Naram is Naram

Suen of Suen of

Akkad ( Akkad (

nd nd

century BCE), perhaps based on his extending the Akkadiancentury BCE), perhaps based on his extending the Akkadian

Empire to its zenith. “Suen or Sin” refers to god). Empire to its zenith. “Suen or Sin” refers to god).