Does anyone else ever wonder if people in the past were really as superstitious as we think? With Halloween coming up, it has me wondering. Like, they talk about the Celtic origins where "it was believed the dead spirits would be abroad and strongest at this time of year" and that they put out carved gourds to ward them off, or to welcome friendly spirits. But note that this was also the end of the harvest and all the work that entails, and it was also the end of their year. It was essentially a huge party lasting for days. And now: [size=-1]"Today Halloween is becoming once again and adult holiday or masquerade, like mardi Gras. Men and women in every disguise imaginable are taking to the streets of big American cities and parading past grinningly carved, candlelit jack o'lanterns, re- enacting customs with a lengthy pedigree. Their masked antics challenge, mock, tease, and appease the dread forces of the night, of the soul, and of the otherworld that becomes our world on this night of reversible possibilities, inverted roles, and transcendency. In so doing, they are reaffirming death and its place as a part of life in an exhilarating celebration of a holy and magic evening." from: http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aahalloweena.htm[/size] It seems to me that it's far more just an excuse to party than anyone really appeasing or mocking dread forces or celebrating any magic. I wonder if it was the same case back then, but because of how we interpret their writings, we take them more seriously than they did. Of course it was their religion, but did they take it so serious as to think there were ghosts walking around? Maybe it was a sort of story they all told, like the Santa Clause myth we have. Kids got into it, parents played along (though to some degree believed it, as it was their religion).
Are most religions not just ancient superstitions that people still believe. There was a study done in various societies including some remote ones that had little or no influence from outside influences. This study showed that what happens within a society is that when certain things that are outwith that societies understanding, they are attributed to spirits/ghosts/gods/demons. If anyone disbelieves this assertion, they are presumed to be doing so because of the influence of this spirit/ghost/god/demon and are cast out of society or worse. This lack of understanding then becomes the foundation of power within society because anyone disagreeing is punished. The theory is that most religions are simply the continuation of power that arose from previous lack of knowledge.
That's an interesting point. I have read that the cletic celebrations were just as much a time to act silly and relieve stress as it was to ward off unfriendly spirits.
The craziest ancient superstition I know of of Christianity.It just seems rational because so many otherwise rational people still partake in this ceremonies. Ask a 2000 year old dead man to erase your sins with his blood and it will be as if it never happened and you will go on to live an eternal life where there is no pain, hunger or need and the streets are paved with gold. Mmmmmm - Kay.......
--Yea... -I guess Im kinda old... -New Mommas Son. --He says.... -"New Mommas got a Sun in her eye. -No clouds are in her changin skys. -Each mornin when I wake up to rise. -Im livin in a dream.... -Anchient times,changing reasons return to lies. -Throw them all away! -Head in hands, gifts of wonders to understand and open all the way..... --New Mommas got a sun in her eyes. -No clouds are in her changin skyes. -Each mornin when I wake up to rise, Im livin in a dream!" -One seriously Deep motherfuker!
No. I think that all superstition originate with a very sensible reason. When the reason is forgotten and the practise is continued we have superstition. Gurudev gave this example: There was a great Guru. Every morning he would take his disciples outdoors for meditation. However, the ashram cat began to come and mew and rub against them and distract them. Therefore he instructed the disciples to tie up the cat before meditating. Years passed. Everyday before morning meditation class the disciples would faithfully tie up the cat. Eventually one day the guru left his body. He was succeeded by the most senior disciple. The cat tying continued. One day the cat also died. The disciples therefore went and found a new cat and tied it to the tree everyday before meditation. Thus we see the original meaing is lost and only te pracise remains, becoming a superstitious meaningless ritual.
