Faith and Superstition
FAITH AND SUPERSTITION
Many people fail to understand the following terms and to differentiate them from each other.
Belief is an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
Myth is a widely held but false belief or idea.
Faith is strong belief in the doctrine of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.
Dr. Dabholkar defines superstition as-
Absence of causal factor and influence of exploitation.
In a broader sense superstition can be explained as-
Absence of causal factor or logical reasoning and influence of exploitation which has gained sanctity due to mental outraging.
For example-
Thinking that having tulsi in home is good is a belief.
Thinking that having tulsi in home and worshipping it daily keeps the evils away from home or keeps the family happy is a faith.
And, thinking that touching the tulsi while having menses is evil and leads to loss of happiness, health and wealth from the family, home is a superstition.
Another example of superstition from Indian society can be-
Thinking that some castes are superior to others in spite of knowing that all humans are same or have 99.99% exact same DNA and hence opposing the inter-caste marriages leading to exploitation of many young lovers and their families.
It should be understood that having belief or faith on something is not always bad and also not all superstitions will lead to exploitation. But obviously not having superstitions will always lead to logical reasoning and mental and philosophical progress.
In India many people believe that The truth alone triumphs. But looking at the history, we know its not true in every case. But if someone believes that the truth alone triumphs and this belief gives him the power or motivates him to fight with the bad things in society that he could not have been able to fight without believing in that proverb, then its a faith and not the superstition.
Faith uplifts humanity values while superstition downgrades them.
Belief can be a myth and the faith can be a belief. A faith based on a false belief (myth) which causes exploitation is a superstition.
Some people also think that illiteracy plays an important role in promoting superstitions which is true. But having education will not eliminate superstitions. Well educated people also fall prey to many superstitions just because they dont think in a logical way.
Many people fail to understand the following terms and to differentiate them from each other.
Belief is an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.
Myth is a widely held but false belief or idea.
Faith is strong belief in the doctrine of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.
Dr. Dabholkar defines superstition as-
Absence of causal factor and influence of exploitation.
In a broader sense superstition can be explained as-
Absence of causal factor or logical reasoning and influence of exploitation which has gained sanctity due to mental outraging.
For example-
Thinking that having tulsi in home is good is a belief.
Thinking that having tulsi in home and worshipping it daily keeps the evils away from home or keeps the family happy is a faith.
And, thinking that touching the tulsi while having menses is evil and leads to loss of happiness, health and wealth from the family, home is a superstition.
Another example of superstition from Indian society can be-
Thinking that some castes are superior to others in spite of knowing that all humans are same or have 99.99% exact same DNA and hence opposing the inter-caste marriages leading to exploitation of many young lovers and their families.
It should be understood that having belief or faith on something is not always bad and also not all superstitions will lead to exploitation. But obviously not having superstitions will always lead to logical reasoning and mental and philosophical progress.
In India many people believe that The truth alone triumphs. But looking at the history, we know its not true in every case. But if someone believes that the truth alone triumphs and this belief gives him the power or motivates him to fight with the bad things in society that he could not have been able to fight without believing in that proverb, then its a faith and not the superstition.
Faith uplifts humanity values while superstition downgrades them.
Belief can be a myth and the faith can be a belief. A faith based on a false belief (myth) which causes exploitation is a superstition.
Some people also think that illiteracy plays an important role in promoting superstitions which is true. But having education will not eliminate superstitions. Well educated people also fall prey to many superstitions just because they dont think in a logical way.
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