Some interesting cases from onelook.com, my usual dictionary resource.
SUPERSTI'TION, n. [L. superstitio, supersto; super and sto, to stand.]
1. Excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; excess or extravagance in religion; the doing of things not required by God, or abstaining from things not forbidden; or the belief of what is absurd, or belief without evidence.
Superstition has reference to god, to religion, or to beings superior to man. 65.66.134.201
Superstition (n.) n.
1. An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.
2. An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion. . . . allwords.com
Main Entry: su·per·sti·tion
1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition m-w.com
Usage: Superstition, Fanaticism. Superstition springs
from religious feeling misdirected or unenlightened.
Fanaticism arises from this same feeling in a state of
high-wrought and self-confident excitement. The former
leads in some cases to excessive rigor in religious
opinions or practice; in others, to unfounded belief
in extraordinary events or in charms, omens, and
prognostics, hence producing weak fears, or excessive
scrupulosity as to outward observances. The latter
gives rise to an utter disregard of reason under the
false assumption of enjoying a guidance directly
inspired. Fanaticism has a secondary sense as applied
to politics, etc., which corresponds to the primary. freedictionary.org*&Database=*&Query=superstition
In general, though, it's true that most dictionaries currently seem to be trying to downplay any religious association, often substituting "magic" or "chance". Personally, I sort of like Stevie Wonder on the topic:
Superstition
Very superstitious, writing's on the wall,
Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall,
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past.
When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way
Very superstitious, wash your face and hands,
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can,
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong,
You don't wanna save me, sad is my song.
When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way, yeh, yeh.
Very superstitious, nothin' more to say,
Very superstitious, the devil's on his way,
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass,
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past
When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way, no, no, no. alwaysontherun.net |
