Where did superstition originate from, and why are so many people superstitious?

Answer 1

Well, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 2

It's the fear of the unknown. I think people are superstitious because the human mind has a tendency toward biases...a desire to create order where there is no order and imagine explanations for things when there can be no explanations in order to lessen the experience of fear. Unfortunately, religious superstitions have been passed down through the ages under the guise of historical fact and have become solidified into reality as such for many people.

Answer 3

Superstition was formed because people are always curious. So curious that they in fact created superstition to confirm to them that they are not alone. Kind of like the alien enthusiasts. Also they knew it wasn't always safe. So they needed to keep their eyes open for danger. Many people are superstitous because it gives them a feel of security. So superstition is always around and just learn to deal with it and those people who are affected by it.

Answer 4

Superstition itself exists because human beings fundamentally have to believe in something. Most superstitions themselves have their origins in old stories or folklore and lessons learned in childhood. IE not walking under ladders. In itself the act of walking under a ladder is not unlucky but merely raises the risk of something [or some-one] being dropped on your head. Therefore is is wiser, safer, luckier not to walk under the ladder.
As for why so many people are superstitious? If I said it was unlucky to stand in the middle of a busy golf course shouting 'Being hit by a golf ball does not hurt' Would you do it?

Answer 5

A lot of superstitions are based on fear, kind of like the little rituals of people with OCD: the thinking is if you do this or that, or say this or that, or carry certain items, you'll be OK. Human beings like the idea of having an extra insurance, whether it be a certain magic phrase, amulet or simply doing certain things in a certain order. It helps calm their anxieties.

Answer 6

During ancient times when scientific knowledge and discovery were on its tottering, baby steps, the so-called elders of the communities used superstition to explain or to make sense of the unknown phenomenon at the time.

Answer 7

Superstition, began with early man very early man... Superstition was just a way that early man coped with the multitude of things that early man-kind could not even come close to explaining..... Like a shooting star we know exactly what they are now.. But early man did not have a clue so he may have assumed that he was being bad and was being punish by the universe... Can you even imagine what went thru early mans mind if a meteorite landed close to him...... He taught his off-spring and them theirs to the point that all strange celestrial happening were automatically bad... So some one has to appease the gods by killing a member of his tribe..... Also early man had no idea as to how fruit grew on tree's So he knocked on a tree to wake it up and spoke to it and tried to help it to remember to grow fruit... So that even today man-kind still knocks on wood... Also someone was out hunting and he was attacked by a black cat not knowing that only black cats grow up in that area.... And remember this that you are still connected to early man-kind genetically..... So even un-knowingly you still carry some of early man-kind fears.............

Answer 8

I think superstition originated from fear. Ancient people didn't understand natural phenomenon and so they invented superstitions to make sense of them.

Answer 9

I think superstition is a scapegoat. People need it to feel safe.

Answer 10

Originated through fear and lack of overstandin to explain things they could not work out logically

Answer 11

I am not superstitious yet I always say touch wood.Must have been drummed into me when I was little.