Religion vs Superstition

[Gangerolf]

Is there a difference?

Both spring out of a desire to provide meaning and coherence to otherwise random and chaotic events, don't they?

Take my late grandmother. We made fun of her when she talked about the "little people" who lived in the woods outside of her house. She even put out food to them to keep them content
But she also went to church every sunday and believed in virgins giving birth and this bearded guy who walked on the water. No one thought that to be silly.

So basically, it's society which decides what falls under the cathegory "religion" and what is considered "superstition":

Superstition - random, illogical beliefs held by some people.

Religion - organized set of superstitions believed by a large number of people, accepted by society.



???

[Giancarlo]

Religion to me is the same thing as superstition... just pretty much irrelevant to my life.

[Gangerolf]

I think a lot of stuff that once were considered religion are now considered superstition. And probably vice versa.

[Dauphin]

Just as some myths and legends come from true stories, so do superstitions can come from truths or logic. For instance, I don't walk under a ladder if someone is up there, if they drop anything it will likely land on my head. I also recall an old 'superstition' that chewing willow bark would relieve pain, given that it has aspirin (or similar) that isn't so superstitious.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

There is no worship involved in superstition

[St Leo]

If your superstition has hired goons, it's a religion.

[Lincoln]

I gues it's kind of like thinking that the laws of physics somehow formed themselves into life which decided to become a human being with all the associated support systems evolving along the way. Many rational people actually believe that.

[Dauphin]

Sorry to nitpick but most people don't (or shouldn't) think that evolution decided to do anything.

[Lincoln]

Yeah, I know. IT just did it. Kind of spooky isn't it?

[St Leo]

In other news, a bunch of comets crashed into Jupiter in the 1990s while Halley's Comet didn't. IT JUST DECIDED NOT TO.

[Ramo]

And the drying machine decided not to dry my clothes properly. That *******!

Now that's spooky.

[Lincoln]

Probably one of the heating elements is out Ramo. Some of them have two and when one burns out everything seems to be working but not near as well. Anyway, if you tell me the problem maybe I can help you fix it.

[molly bloom]

Religion= superstition + theory + money + a ruler/monarch. Add a priesthood, some nice buildings, tithes and place next to a rival ruler's domain. Watch crusade develop.

Next up - God -v- Allah, the grudge match.

Followed at three o'clock with the rematch of the century- Jehovah takes on Vishnu, while Thor and Loki get to grips with Ahriman and Baal, in a tag team special.

[Urban Ranger]

I think it's Tom Wolfe who said "a cult is a religion without sufficient political clout," or something like that.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Lincoln
Yeah, I know. IT just did it. Kind of spooky isn't it?

Jesting aside, yes it is.

I am always a little freaked out when I consider why laws of physics are as they are. "They just are" shouldn't be a satisfactory answer to anyone, even though it is the only available answer. God of the Holes steps in well to answer it too of course. Here science can never touch it.