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# Re: superstition

#### Message 02671 of 3835

- To: BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com
- Subject: Re: superstition
- From: "danerebor" <hornedfox@...>
- Date: Wed, 09 Jun 2004 12:13:02 -0000
- In-reply-to: <ca2dih+4pch@eGroups.com>
- User-agent: eGroups-EW/0.82

    Hi RM,

    Thanks and very good examples. It does seem that Will and Emotion can
    adjust our 'delusion' of reality.

    Dan :)

    >
    > Dear Dan:
    >
    > As always, a good question! In my view, a superstition is
    essentially
    > a false opinion about cause and effect. If you go to a bowling
    alley
    > it is common to see bowlers make all kinds of strange body gestures
    > (usually combined with a chant such as "Come on; come on!") in
    order
    > to Will the ball to move a little to the right or left. Although
    such
    > bowling rituals are common, they aren't quite superstitions. A
    person
    > holding a superstition will usually be willing to expend effort
    > defending the belief. This is because the belief has psychological
    > value to the one who holds it. So a superstition is an inaccurate
    > opinion about cause and effect combined with an emotional
    investment
    > in sustaining the belief.
    >
    > Some of the most important contributions of science have been the
    > idea of objective proof as well as the idea that it is possible to
    > achieve a consensus about the nature of reality. Magical thinking,
    on
    > the other hand, maintains that at least some aspects of reality are
    > inherently subjective and moreover Will and Emotion can and do
    change
    > the nature of physical reality.
    >
    > So if my cousin Eric believes that wearing his "lucky socks" will
    > make it more likely that his favorite sports team will win then his
    > belief may indeed exert a very minor influence on reality. The
    > fallacy that makes Eric's belief a superstition is that he vastly
    > overrates the effect of his personal magical rite. A trained
    magician
    > on the other hand is able to create much more significant effects
    > (i.e., non-negligible) as a consequence of his or her rites.
    >
    > In some cases I think superstitions may even represent a naive
    early
    > attempt at harnessing the principles of magic.
    >
    > Sincerely, /RM/

- References:
  - Re: superstition
    - From: "Regulus Magus" <RegulusMagus@...>

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