What was the distinction between natural and supernatural events in the medieval world? (One of the questions that I have to answer in an essay regarding Robert Bartlett's book 'The Natural and the Supernatural in the Middle Ages)

Question

My answer: Natural events can be classified as something that is as grand as the whole physical creation but can also be used in understated statements that can be used in the definitions of the word "natural" that range from "not artificially made" to "native". So in the sense of natural events in the medieval world, natural events would be events that repeatedly occurred compared to events that erratically occurred which could be viewed as the work of the supernatural and those events that erratically occurred could be viewed as supernatural events. In contrast supernatural events can be classified as events or things that are beyond nature and are therefore their causes for existence are in God's hands alone.So in the sense of supernatural events in the medieval world, supernatural events would be events that occurred occasionally and was spread out over a period of time.

Answer 1

Yes, that is chapter 2 of Barnett. But he did show what was natural for one could be supernatural to another (ie, the eclipse). You did not address his discussion of types of beings: angelic, demonic, humans, and "dog-heads" (monsters). He later explored the realm of experimentation to sort out natural vs supernatural. I assume you have figured out that the concept of Supernatural was not a concept in the Western World until the 13th century

Answer 2

So in my shoes, Bob, would you rewrite what I have for my answer by including what you stated above?