Why are we so superstitious in this century?

Question

I was in the mythology section earlier and people actually believe in vampires. Look at all the people in the world that believe in some kind of god. Many people believe the world will end in 2012 because of the mayan calender. Have we really made no progress in the last few hundred years? Will we ever think rationally or are we always going to believe in rubbish?

Answer 1

Joining to the other comments my opinion is that progress, in the term of mankind, does not exist. Even if the general knowledge of our race is rapidly expanding, the average individual (the man on the street) is not really able to comprehend the rational argumentation of more complex issues and thus prefers the simpler interpretations. This inclination can be reduced by good educational system, but it will not eliminate superstitious thoughts completely.

I would also add, that from the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of World War I the belief (yes, belief) that science would eventually solve all of our problems and lead us to a new era of enlightenment. But the 20th century proved that modern technology combined with medieval thoughts and moral conditions means a disastrous mixture. People lost their confidence and started to seek salvation in the realm of the supernatural again.

Answer 2

Hmm...believing in something isn't necessarily rubbish. Haven't you ever believed against seemingly unbeatable odds that something would happen, and it did?

Honestly, as a researcher, I generally feel that rationality will only get you so far. At some point, every scientist comes to the roadblock represented by the question why? Why does photosynthesis work the way it does? Who said that water should evaporate at 100 degrees Celsius? It could very easily have been 90 degrees, or 110 degrees, but for some strange reason, it isn't. Why can somatic cells regenerate while neurons cannot? Why should a human being have 46 chromosomes? See, these are things that even the hardest of scientists cannot not categorically answer. Reason can only take you so far.

I suppose this is where faith comes in. I could be wrong, but see, humans need closure; this is one of the cornerstones of Gestalt psychology. We can't go on for very long without good, solid answers to those questions. Some scientists have said that all that was developed by pure chance, merely by coincidence. When I hear that, I think of the molecular behavior of water. See, with most liquids, when brought below their freezing point become solid, which are denser than their liquid counterparts. But with water, nature has somehow bent the rules of science. Frozen water is solid ice, but ice less dense than liquid water. This is what allows fish to live throughout the winter. The frozen parts of lakes and rivers always remain above the water, ensuring that fish would still have a home.

Question: why does water bend the rules? Chemists cite that the structure of water is such that it forms a lattice when solid. Next question: how did water come to become like that? Again, chemistry has an answer: because of the way hydrogen behaves. Last question: why does hydrogen behave that way? Because that's the way it was made to behave.

At that point, one must wonder if chance was smart enough to make sure that the most abundant compound in the world, one that helps sustain life, would have all the chemical properties required to maintain life. This, I think is where faith comes in. Chance could very well have made a sea out of cyanide instead of water. (It's possible because carbon and nitrogen have existed in space for many millenia) But that would have been lethal to life, and so we would never have evolved. But that's not how things have turned out--and for a lot of people, it's comforting to think that there was an underlying design to all this to make it all less frightening. Hence, you have myths from every culture.

Science and faith aren't necessarily against each other: Sir Isaac Newton and Galileo were both Christians, and that did not in anyway affect their practice as scientists.

Answer 3

Religion has programed mankind to be superstitious, and as long as there is religion people will believe all the rubbish religion can throw at them, and it's religion that has brought civilized progress to almost a complete stop over the last 200 hundred years.

Answer 4

No progress? Boy you should have seen the last half century fly by.
If say in 2012 the magnetic poles shift as predicted by science and the world is ripped apart, and for another kicker just before this millions of people disappear suddenly and competely.
do you wake up at that point and realize there is something outside of your James Dean wanta be self. And who would you blame it on God, Magnetism or the Mayans?

Answer 5

Unfortunately everyone is so caught up believing in whatever the hell it is they believe in that they always skip the reality. I on the other hand don't know what the hell to believe anymore. I always said all mythological stories had to derive from somewhere but then there's no proof that it doesn't exist. What can you believe these days when there is so many to choose from. I am one of those people who keeps an open mind about everything but will not admit to any kind of beliefs because I have none. Just live life. Get through the day. That's my motto.

Answer 6

People believe those type of things based on the way they percieve the world. When they witness a certain event, or are told something is true by a reputable source, at that point, their lives are changed based on the change that occurs within their minds.
Given the time we have had to change the way we think, people are certainly capable of believing things such as vampires.
i am excluding my own personal opinions from this post, as i can asure you it will go against what you believe in, and besides that, i try to remain neutral in my answers.
check your media sources, and witness the food that our society has been feeding on to develop these beliefs.

Answer 7

The world will always have superstitions, no matter what. Everbody thought the world was going to end in 2000. Back then, the economy was very unstable, so people had many doubts. Anyways... Not a very good answer, but it's the best of my knowledge.

Answer 8

People are looking for answers. We all feel as if we are on the edge of a precipice. Things cannot continue as they have. Something has to happen, to change. Inflation is out of control, the wars are out of control, no one limits themselves any more. I feel like we are being squeezed and pressed for every little bit we have. Even our time is not ours. We are kept so busy just trying to make a living that no one has time to learn the truth about anything. Because of that the traditional superstitions reign. And, a few new ones. haha.Great question.


Love Your avatar, S.E. Purple is my favorite color.

Answer 9

That is just a fact of life. There will always be those who choose to believe in the things that are not real, or claim they don't believe in God's at all, really odd. So many just look for anything to believe in beside the Father of Jesus, God.
There will always be rubbish, no doubt, until that special day arrives and they all see God. God is real and there is no rubbish there !!!

Answer 10

If these people knew God and His truth, they would not be involved in superstitious ideas and beliefs. The god of this world have blinded their eyes so they can't see God's truth. If we continue in God's Word and abide in it, we will continue to think rationally.