Superstition and Religion
 

I was listening to a podcast of the Pagan variety, and the subject of superstition came up, and I got thinking about it and religion.
Now, I don't mean to be ignorant, but I try to learn about everything as much as I can, and the only way to stop being ignorant is to ask questions. So I ask everyone -- of every faith system, but particularly Christians (just because I'm curious) -- how do you deal with superstition? In your particular practice, would superstition be considered anti-religious (i.e., are some traditional superstitions considered so be sinful)? What superstitions do you hold close to you? You know just stuff like that. Thanks a bunch!

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

I'm Catholic and my family has a few superstitions, but they're more like traditions really. We have fun with that sort of thing. I don't think superstitions are sinful unless you get really hardcore into it.

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

The way I see it, anything that isn't in the Bible (such as the seven deadly sins) is a form of superstition, because we don't know for sure what's right and what's wrong in these, even if we have fair guesses.

I personally think that superstitions should be avoided.

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

So far as Judaism goes....any superstitions would be found within the Kaballah...I'm not necessarily sure that they're superstitions (is it superstitious if it's true?), but simply certain things that create certain affects...


And why should there be any problem with it? Every action has an equal land opposite reaction, or in other words, everything we do has a consequence...That could possibly mean that if we spill over some salt maybe something bad will happen. The fact that we don't value the nature of certain superstitions doesn't mean that they are any less valid...

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

I would say Catholics don't believe certain superstitions. But religious belief is superstition - it's a belief or notion not based on reason or knowledge. Catholicism and any other theistic religion is by definition superstitious.

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

If you think about it, religion in itself is a superstition, so the question becomes, do people who accept a certain set of superstitions (the religious beliefs) accept a certain superstition? Considering a superstition to be "anti-religious" may be possible but then again, it's arguing whether or not a certain superstition is considered to be against your set of superstitions. Yes it's possible.

I don't believe in any theistic beliefs, so my superstitions would be don't walk under a ladder if someone is on it (although could be argued to be common sense) and there's no such physical thing as heaven, hell, etc... .

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

Re: Superstition and Religion
 

Yet you do realize that your theistic belief inherently is a series of superstitions? Example: don't violate the 6th commandment or you will go to some place called hell. It is all superstitions, so if you say you're not superstitious, then you must not believe in your god, or any god/goddess for that matter.