Superstition and Modern Thoughts

INTRODUCTION

 'Girls should not leave their hair untied and go out at night time' or 'Change route if a black cat crosses your path'-- we all have heard these sentences from time to time. Sometimes from our friends and relatives but mostly from the elderly in my family or society. These sentences, rather beliefs can be referred to as Superstition. However, what is the origin of these beliefs? Are they even logical? How do these collide with the modern thoughts of society? So, Let us try to find and provide some answers to these questions. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

First, let me share two of my stories of encountering superstition. Very early in life, my mother would not let me cut my hair and nails on the day of the week I was born. Then, when I grew a little bit my mother would still disagree with me when I wanted to cut my hair and nails on that day. She would take my response as rudeness rather than care to clarify the reason for abiding by these beliefs. Another scenario is whenever any of my family members went traveling, my grandmother would not let us give out garbage that day. The house would get filled with foul smells. Still that day no person dared to throw away the trash. Whenever I tried to ask them "Why do we need to follow these rules?" Their answer would be 'That's how it has been for ages' or just a quiet angry stare. So, I could never receive a logical explanation regarding my question.

 

ORIGIN & EXAMPLES

The origin of superstition is unknown but there are some speculations. To begin with, it is thought that the first concept of superstition was introduced by the Greeks in the 4th century BCE. After that, for the next 2000 years in different regions of the world superstition stood in contrast to the religious beliefs conducted and recommended by the elites. Besides, it is also possible that people made up superstitions as a defense mechanism. Moreover, superstitions could be a way for people to stop their wrongdoings through methods of fear and distress. Now, throughout the ages, these beliefs have changed and been molded by interacting with various cultures, religions, and ethnicities. 

There are many examples of superstition. If I may state three of them then they would be, 

If your left palm is itching, it is a sign of losing money. And if your right palm is itching then you will receive money. 

If you overtake any weird shadow at lunchtime that means you might be possessed by ghosts or might be harmed by them.

If your right eye blinks then you will hear good news and if your left eye blinks you might hear bad news.

MODERN BELIEF VS SUPERSTITION

                                 

Now the world is progressing at a fast pace with education, inventions, and innovation of technology. These crucial factors of the modern world are influencing how people are now thinking and changing their point of view.  Along with the modernization of the world, old beliefs, and modern thoughts have started to collide with each other. Fewer people are following superstitions and are bending more towards logical thinking. I think it's because people are finding the topic of superstition irrelevant to their current living situation. If I portray one synopsis, a long time ago there were no lampposts providing lights on the streets, so people walking down the empty dark road would get scared hearing random noises or hallucinate some creature behind them. So from there, people stated, "Never look behind when walking down a dark alleyway, if you don't want a demon to take you away". But nowadays we have got lights almost everywhere on the streets. So we do not have to pass dark passages for transportation. Therefore now no one tells us to never look behind or the demon might take us away. It is as if this superstitious belief just gradually faded away with modernization. 

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT BEHIND SUPERSTITION

The modern-day belief now inspires us to look for logic behind all actions. However, superstitions fail to provide concrete evidence or any rational reasons to follow them. Still, Why do some people obey them? I think it's connected to human psychology. Homo sapiens came this far as a species as we have the ability to learn from our mistakes and tend to avoid oncoming danger. And our fearful nature of something happening to us adds more to this ability. Superstitions have dug so deep in the minds of some people that they now think disobeying their beliefs would bring harm to them and their families. This psychological effect plays an important role in shaping people's belief systems. So they stick to their blind belief and remain a victim to superstition.

CONCLUSION

I myself am not a superstitious person rather I think in a rational manner and try to find the logic behind every stone I turn. Moreover, Superstitions in my opinion are evil to our society and only bring harm to us. There are many incidents indicating how menacing superstitions can be. Also, it can even bring out the worst in some people resulting in horrifying accidents. Therefore, I believe we need to keep ourselves updated with the modern world and try to think in different directions before arriving at a conclusion, thus gradually eradicating superstitious beliefs from the human mind through modernization.