Superstition

[Erki]

Why are some people superstitious? I am not and I don't see why some people think Friday 13th or number 666 is something bad. Last month, the 13th was a Friday and nothing happened to me, June 6th(06/06/06) wasn't anything special either, I even have an exam on that day and I didn't fail!

In my opinion, superstition is like denying the responsibility you have on your life. Or even more, if a superstitious person sees some of those things s/he thinks is evil or bad, s/he thinks and concentrates more on what s/he doesn't want and might get it via intention-manifestation s/he's using unconsciously.

Your thoughts?

[Erin Pavlina]

When I was a kid I was superstitious, mainly because all my friends were. But as I grew older all of those superstitious thoughts disappeared as I realized they were created by human fear.

However, when I was a kid, my friend walked under a ladder and then a few hours later broke her wrist. At the time I definitely decided that that superstition must be real. As I grew up, I never walked under a ladder. It gave me the heebie jeebies. I can't say that I'd go out of my way to walk under a ladder today but I know it's a silly superstition anyway.

[Trina]

I completely agree. And I see the whole denying responsibility thing in more than just superstitious beliefs. I see it in religion sometimes as well. I think it's much easier than taking responsibility for your own choices, and who doesn't want the easy way out?

Not saying that being superstitous (or religious) automatically makes you irresponsible, just that superstition (or religion) could be an excuse for being irresponsible for some people.

[The Universal Call]

I fully agree with you Erki. I see no reason why people choose to be superstitious, then again - I see no reason why people wish to choose some very questionable religions. But trust me, I won't go there.

Why do people choose to freak instead of just ignore it? Of course the number 666 means nothing, we humans thought it up. It's numbers! Come on, what effect does a number have on the wind, the weather, nature Earth, the space? The same goes for Friday the 13th, and just like you mentioned Erki the most horrible thing that could happen would be if a superstitious person would focus on what terrible deeds the number 666 could bring, and actually manifest something vaguely horrible in their own life and then they would be reinforced in their belief that 666 is the numbers of the devil. It could turn into an evil circle, but what's ironic is that it rarely does. Most often nothing bad happens on Friday the 13th, but some people still wish to be superstitious. It's amusing, really.

"Denying the responsibility you have on your life?"
Well, like Trina said this isn't only found in someone being superstitious. I find that not living up to your greatest and trying to get the most out of yourself would be denying the responsibility you have on your life. But most often when one is comfortable one doesn't think too much on responsibilities and such, like Trina put it: who doesn't want the easy way out?

[mind-energy]

All superstitions are fear based. Don't do this or that or else...
Now, for most people it's just easier to fear and avoid doing the thing than take the chance of doing it.

It's interesting also how people like to tell others no do things because of their superstitious beliefs, even though the other person has no such fear.

[Jill]

Believing in superstitions can end up being a self-fullilling prophecy.

[Tripp444]

I agree with Jill. I think you could tie in superstitious beliefs with the law of attraction. Perhaps people who are superstitious attracted superstitious circumstances into their lives simply by believing in them. Perhaps Erin's friend attracted the broken wrist (Although, I would HATE to think a person could do that) simply by believing something bad would happen if she walked under a ladder...

[Guinevere]

"Superstition brings bad luck" - Raymond Smullyan

[RandomJohn]

Superstitions focus energy. They are thoughts, and they tend to manifest. That's why some superstitions are stubborn. What I find interesting is superstitions that lead to some sort of ritual, such as the saying of "bless you" after a sneeze (presumably because at one point in time it was thought that the spirit left the body during a sneeze, or some similar story).

[Radical]

Why do people believe in god? Religion is nothing more than the evolution of superstition.

[november]

I find it interesting that someone would claim religion to be the evolution of superstition, since I see them as very much on the same level.

I say "bless you" when ppl sneeze. Why? B/c it feels good coming out of my mouth. And, in my more egotistical moments, I like exercising that power over ppl. All words are manifestations of intent and I see nothing wrong with intending positivity toward someone.

Superstition, technically, is more negative than positive, but I've never been able to feel that way about it. I'm superstitious. And, I believe in magic.

[AndyMartin]

I tend to agree with the thinking that superstition is an early expression of a fear-based mindset. Then it gets incorporated into more sophisticated systems of thought as thinking evolves. And because it focuses intention negatively, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom.

I think people believe in superstition for the same reason they believe in anything; they think it will protect them. That's why attachment to belief is so dangerous, regardless of its source or how compelling the evidence is. It sets your intention into motion, for good or bad. Meanwhile ego, concerned first and foremost with protection, gets busy constructing a set of values and behaviors to protect that belief so you don't contravene it's directive to protect you. That's what makes these cycles so hard to break out of. It's the Fight Club dilemma:

You: You're making a big mistake, fella!
Ego: You said you would say that.
You: I'm not superstitious!
Ego: You told us you'd say that, too.
You: All right then, I'm superstitious. Listen to me, I'm giving you a direct order. We're aborting this belief right now.
Ego: You said you would definitely say that.

[PerDev]

Originally Posted by Erki

Why are some people superstitious? I am not and I don't see why some people think Friday 13th or number 666 is something bad. Last month, the 13th was a Friday and nothing happened to me, June 6th(06/06/06) wasn't anything special either, I even have an exam on that day and I didn't fail!

In my opinion, superstition is like denying the responsibility you have on your life. Or even more, if a superstitious person sees some of those things s/he thinks is evil or bad, s/he thinks and concentrates more on what s/he doesn't want and might get it via intention-manifestation s/he's using unconsciously.

Your thoughts?

Sometime things works strangely and we would not comprehend it by mind - which might be beyound mind.

[Mato Kinze]

Originally Posted by Radical

Why do people believe in god? Religion is nothing more than the evolution of superstition.

If, as RandomJohn states, "Superstitions focus energy. They are thoughts, and they tend to manifest," is true, and you take your statement that, "Religion is nothing more than the evolution of superstition," then we get that spirituality - which is the goal of ANY religion - is a direct manifestation of the intention those who practice that religion put into it. The stronger the focus and intent, the more powerful the manifestation. Thus, Pentacostal ibuement of the Holy Spirit, Voudoun Curses/Blessings, Shamanic healing... the list could on and on, but I think you can get the point.