Superstition
Beliefs considered irrational or supernatural by non-practitioners.
Superstition refers to any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, commonly applied to ideas surrounding luck, fate, magic, amulets, astrology, fortune telling, spirits, and certain paranormal entities. The term is also used to describe a religion not practiced by the majority of a given society, or all religions by the antireligious.
- definition
- Irrational beliefs or practices at odds with scientific knowledge
- key_characteristics
- Culturally dependent, instrumental, and presumed mechanism inconsistent with physical world
- categories
- Magic, divination, and observances
- related_terms
- Folk belief, prognostication, superstition as pejorative label
- historical_associations
- Exaggerated ritual, credulous attitude toward prophecies, fear of gods
Lore & Background
Definitions of superstition vary, but it is commonly described as irrational beliefs at odds with scientific knowledge. Stuart Vyse proposes that a superstition's presumed mechanism of action is inconsistent with our understanding of the physical world, while Jane Risen adds that these beliefs are not merely scientifically wrong but impossible. Lysann Damisch defines superstition as irrational beliefs that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome. Dale Martin says superstitions presuppose an erroneous understanding about cause and effect rejected by modern science.
Reader's Guide
Superstition has been used pejoratively across cultures and eras to label beliefs outside the mainstream. In antiquity, the Latin term superstitio became associated with exaggerated ritual and credulous attitudes toward prophecies. Greek and Roman polytheists scorned those who trembled with fear at the thought of the gods. Cicero contrasted superstitio with mainstream religion, stating that one does not destroy religion by destroying superstition. The current Catechism of the Catholic Church considers superstition sinful as a perverse excess of religion and a violation of the first commandment. Identifying something as superstition generally expresses a pejorative view, and items referred to as such in common parlance are often called folk belief in folkloristics.
Did You Know?
- The Oxford English Dictionary describes superstitions as 'irrational, unfounded'.
- Stuart Vyse argues that what is considered superstitious varies across cultures and time.
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church considers superstition a violation of the first of the Ten Commandments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Superstition in Beliefs And Practices 1-16?
Superstition is the umbrella term for beliefs or rituals that outsiders dismiss as irrational or supernatural, typically tied to luck, fate, magic, amulets, astrology, fortune telling, or spirits. It is defined as a set of ideas that conflict with established scientific understanding and are held by non-practitioners to lack a rational mechanism.
What are the main categories of Superstition?
The entry groups Superstition into three broad types: magic, divination, and observances. These cover everything from casting spells and reading omens to following specific taboos or ceremonial acts meant to influence outcomes.
How is Superstition distinguished from religion?
The label is applied when a faith or practice is not the majority belief in a given society, or when antireligious people use it as a blanket pejorative for all organized religion. In other words, the same set of beliefs may be called religion by its adherents and superstition by those outside the group.
What key characteristics make a belief count as Superstition?
Three traits are highlighted: the belief is culturally dependent, it is instrumental (used to produce a desired result), and its presumed mechanism does not align with how the physical world actually works. Because of that cultural dependence, what one community calls superstition another may treat as ordinary folk belief or prognostication.
What historical associations does the entry link to Superstition?
Historically, the concept is tied to exaggerated ritual performance, a credulous acceptance of prophecies, and a deep-seated fear of the gods. These associations show how the term has long been used to critique or mock religious and magical practices that seem excessive or irrational to observers.
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