Religious Superstitions

awitch · Oct 30, 2013

This mental floss video was just posted to youtube and explains the origins of various superstitions, many of which were religious. Thought it was interesting and I'd throw it out there.

32 Superstition Origins - mental_floss on YouTube (Ep. 33) - YouTube

I wonder how many people will stop doing any of these things when they hear the origin.

pinkputter · Oct 30, 2013

why does it matter where these originated? if u believe in it or it just makes you feel better, why not do it? it can't hurt. it's like having a favorite number.

awitch · Oct 30, 2013

pinkputter said:
why does it matter where these originated?

I don't think it does, but there are people refuse to celebrate holidays like Christmas or refuse to do yoga because of ties to other religions. I wonder if they would stop doing other things or stop using expressions for the same reason if they knew.

Or if you visit the "Korra" thread, someone doesn't want to watch a cartoon because it was inspired by Buddhist lore.

Zoness · Oct 30, 2013

pinkputter said:
why does it matter where these originated? if u believe in it or it just makes you feel better, why not do it? it can't hurt. it's like having a favorite number.

In Catholicism, for example, being superstitious is discouraged.

xDenax · Oct 30, 2013

pinkputter said:
why does it matter where these originated? if u believe in it or it just makes you feel better, why not do it? it can't hurt. it's like having a favorite number.

I guess that depends on how you define "hurt".

Anyway, I hadn't heard of all of these. Putting a hat on the bed? I didn't know that was considered bad luck. The only one of these that I do it put candles in a cake.

pinkputter · Oct 30, 2013

Zoness said:
In Catholicism, for example, being superstitious is discouraged.

rocklife · Oct 31, 2013

If it's on the internet, it must be true! or not. There is a reason there was a time called the "Dark ages". There was obviously a very corrupt church period in history.

There's a New Testament Bible verse that says if something feels like sin to one person, but not to you, leave them alone about it.

I stopped worrying too much about things like saying "bless you" for sneezing, which I feel is a superstitious waste of time but rude if you don't say it in public, since we can't escape things like the days of the months and weekday names which have pagan origins. We just live in a corrupt world, do your best.

Jane_the_Bane · Oct 31, 2013

Zoness said:
In Catholicism, for example, being superstitious is discouraged.

Which is quite humorous from my vantage point, given that they interpret the term "superstition" to mean "any blatantly ridiculous belief NOT AUTHORED BY OUR CHURCH".

Zoness · Oct 31, 2013

Jane_the_Bane said:
Which is quite humorous from my vantage point, given that they interpret the term "superstition" to mean "any blatantly ridiculous belief NOT AUTHORED BY OUR CHURCH".

Right. I didn't say it wasn't ridiculous since as far as religion goes, Catholicism is probably among the most superstitious lol.

WisdomTree · Oct 31, 2013

rocklife said:
If it's on the internet, it must be true! or not. There is a reason there was a time called the "Dark ages". There was obviously a very corrupt church period in history.

There's a New Testament Bible verse that says if something feels like sin to one person, but not to you, leave them alone about it.

I stopped worrying too much about things like saying "bless you" for sneezing, which I feel is a superstitious waste of time but rude if you don't say it in public, since we can't escape things like the days of the months and weekday names which have pagan origins. We just live in a corrupt world, do your best.

False, there was no such thing as the "Dark Ages". It was made up by a Roma-philic humanist during the Renaissance.

rakovsky · Mar 8, 2016

rocklife said:
There's a New Testament Bible verse that says if something feels like sin to one person, but not to you, leave them alone about it.

Where does it say that?

Winter_Rose · Mar 8, 2016

I remember that people got burnt at the stake as others thought that they were witches. That also happened to Joan of Arc, people thought she used magic as she heard voices from archangel Michael and St. Catherine.

Winter_Rose · Mar 8, 2016

rocklife said:
If it's on the internet, it must be true! or not. There is a reason there was a time called the "Dark ages". There was obviously a very corrupt church period in history.

There's a New Testament Bible verse that says if something feels like sin to one person, but not to you, leave them alone about it.

I stopped worrying too much about things like saying "bless you" for sneezing, which I feel is a superstitious waste of time but rude if you don't say it in public, since we can't escape things like the days of the months and weekday names which have pagan origins. We just live in a corrupt world, do your best.

I'm a culprit at saying bless you when someone sneezes.

faroukfarouk · Mar 8, 2016

Winter_Rose said:
I'm a culprit at saying bless you when someone sneezes.

For a lot of people it's hardly a religious thing to say it; just a custom.

Winter_Rose · Mar 8, 2016

I'm not a superstitious person. I think black cats are lovely things.

Robban · Mar 8, 2016

Winter_Rose said:
I'm not a superstitious person. I think black cats are lovely things.

Black or white, what difference does it make,
as long as they catch mice.

Chinese saying?

seashale76 · Mar 8, 2016

Winter_Rose said:
I remember that people got burnt at the stake as others thought that they were witches. That also happened to Joan of Arc, people thought she used magic as she heard voices from archangel Michael and St. Catherine.

Burning at the stake has to do with the Persian/Zoroastrian influence on various sects, and Diocletian's 'solution'. This explains the actual historical origin of that practice:
http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/02/why-heretics-were-burned-alive.html

Winter_Rose · Mar 8, 2016

seashale76 said:
Burning at the stake has to do with the Persian/Zoroastrian influence on various sects, and Diocletian's 'solution'. This explains the actual historical origin of that practice:
http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/02/why-heretics-were-burned-alive.html

Thank you.

rakovsky · Mar 8, 2016

awitch said:
This mental floss video was just posted to youtube and explains the origins of various superstitions, many of which were religious. Thought it was interesting and I'd throw it out there.

32 Superstition Origins - mental_floss on YouTube (Ep. 33) - YouTube

I wonder how many people will stop doing any of these things when they hear the origin.

I watched the video.
I think people just do these things as practice and customs, not really caring about the origin.
I don't think many people will stop saying Wednesday when they know about the pagan god connection.

Jane_the_Bane · Mar 10, 2016

PLEASE stop resurrecting long-dead threads.

Create a new one if a particular topic is of interest to you, but let the departed rest.
Chances are that most of those involved in the original conversation are no longer around, anyway.

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