Religion... Superstition...

[trencacloscas]

What's the difference or differences between religion and superstition?

Are there any?

Please provide some definitions and comparisons.

[McCulloch]

What's the difference or differences between religion and superstition?

Are there any?

Please provide some definitions and comparisons.

I define superstition as a belief in something or things supernatural. By that definition, most religions are a specific subset of superstition, ie a belief in a supernatural deity.

[ST88]

Because this topic is not specifically about Christianity, it is being moved to the Philosophy forum.

[vacantcardboardbox]

Superstitions don't have tax benefits.

[vacantcardboardbox]

Superstitions don't have tax benefits.

[harvey1]

What's the difference or differences between religion and superstition? Are there any? Please provide some definitions and comparisons.

Well, here's my opinion in a nutshell:

A superstition is an association between an action and event which is seen to have supernatural influence; usually having to do with luck. So, for example, talking about a tragedy happening to us is sometimes seen superstitiously even by atheists. If you talk about it, something like that might actually happen. Therefore, we should not talk about it, and if we accidentally do, then some people will perform some other action to dispell the bad spirits such as knock on wood (based on an ancient custom that believed that knocking on wood dispelled the evil demons from the wood).

Religion is much more comprehensive. It seeks to understand the world in a comprehensive manner by considering information that science and philosophy are not willing to consider. For example, a religious experience would garner a great deal of talk in religious circles with friends, however a religious experience would not be something you would share in those other circles. Religion also attempts to provide meaning for life in a satisfactory way, so you see people turning toward religion when the everyday mundane things don't seem so meaningful.

[harvey1]

As a quick follow-up, a moment after posting this I got a junk e-mail about how pests in wood can affect the environment. How funny.

[ShieldAxe]

What's the difference or differences between religion and superstition?

Are there any?

Please provide some definitions and comparisons.

A religion is a collection of superstitious beliefs.

A superstion is an irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

Example: Praying - believed to influence events

[vacantcardboardbox]

My favourite are the prayers about finances.

If god created this vast universe, he would be completely indifferent to the job you've lost? Considering money is a creation of man, he wouldn't care if you had any or not. Furthermore, what kind of god would support the shallow existence of someone who needs the comfort of money to make them happy.

Homeless people can find god; get over yourself.

Of course, that's mostly found in the religion of Christianity. And that sort of exploitation is caused by the western-culture, not by the bible. It's just ironic that the majority of Christians live incredibly materialistic lives.

[Nirvana-Eld]

And don't we all lead materialistic lives?

Just to refute what appears to a biased statement. The God that Jesus Christ spoke of (the God that He WAS) does not care about material possesion but he does care about survival, and sad as it is, you cant survive in this country without money. So I do think God would care about a someone who lost his job because there goes his living and life along with his job.

Back to the topic that we're actually debating.

Superstition is unsound first off (if you do this crazy thing this will happen for you) and it does not claim to have a source.

Religion (christianity in this case) believes in a God that interacts with them on a personal and emotional level. Its more intamate in their eyes than mere superstition (being only out of want and unsound belief). All religions claim divine inspiration one way or another, while superstition is more urban legend than anything else.