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superstition As an answer to those who protest using the phrase "higher level of superstition" for a religion in the previous weekly, I would like to remind everyone that the American Heritage Dictionary defines superstition as 1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome. 2a. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith to magic or chance. 2b. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality. And here’s what it tells us: knowing the definition is not the same as being able to understand it. You usually can’t change someone’s stand by simply resolving to logic. But let’s do this by an example. After president George W. Bush launched an aggressive campaign to expand governmental funding for private religious groups, David Morris caustically suggested [http://www.alternet.org/story/21641] on March 31, 2005 that in the Bush’s address the word religion be replaced by the epistemologically more illuminating term superstition: "I believe in the power of superstition in people’s lives. Our government should not fear programs that exist because a church os a synagogue or a mosque has decided to start one. We should not discriminate against programs based upon superstition in America. We should enable them to access federal money, because superstition-based programs can change people’s lives, and America will be better off for it. The superstition-based initiative is not about a single superstition. In this country we’re great because we’re got many superstitions, and we’re great because you can choose whatever superstition you choose, or if you choose no superstition at all, you’re still equally American." A great speech, particularly when notably improved by this simple rephrasing. More on the subject in Beyond the Hoax by Alan Sokal (Oxford, 2008). |
The papal court of Pope Pius II a fresco by Pinturicchio (1458) SOURCE: 1434 by Gavin Menzies (2008) |
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