The following is an excerpt from my (as yet unpublished and probably going to remain that way) first novel, Falling. Though the story is not autobiographical, this character's definition of the difference between the supernatural and the paranormal is close enough to my own to give you a feeling for what I'm getting at when I say that I don't believe in the one, but am open to the possibility of the other. Once it's proved, of course. At which point it won't be para-anything anymore, but simply science. And that doesn't mean that I want any truck with pseudo-science bullshit either, mind you.
It's worth noting that the character who speaks these lines is a demon, so it's not like I don't have a sense of humor about this stuff.
"'But you believe in the supernatural.'
'Not really. I believe in the paranormal.'
'Aren't they the same thing?'
'Supernatural implies that the rules of nature are
being broken, and I don't believe that that ever happens. I
just think that some of the rules are not discovered yet, or
are more subtle than people imagine. And it’s because of
these undiscovered variations in the rules that strange
things happen from time to time.'
'I guess that makes sense, but what about magic?'
'Magic is all about following rules, isn't it? You do
a certain spell, in a certain way, you get a certain result.
It’s just like a chemistry experiment.'
'Ok, but what about supernatural entities? Things like
ghosts, and demons?'
'I assure you that everything, demons included, has to
follow the rules. The laws of nature are much more real
than the laws of man, and because they can't be broken, they
need no prisons. A much simpler arrangement. Do you think
we can sit down here? My coffee is getting cold.'"