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To all and sundry,

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It appears that the notions of faith, religion and superstition are closely intertwined.
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David posted the OED definitions of “faith” when he created this thread, the second sense of which is :

• « strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof »

Whereas, the OED indicates the second sense of “religion” as :

• « A particular system of faith and worship »

And the definition of “superstition” as :

• « Excessively credulous belief in and reverence for supernatural beings »
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In “Of the Nature of the Gods”, Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC), considered to be a model of Classic Latin, had this to say :

« … for our ancestors, as well as the philosophers, have separated superstition from religion. They have prayed whole days and sacrificed, that their children might survive them (ut superstites essent,) were called superstitious, which word became afterwards more general; but they who diligently perused, and, as we may say, read or practised over again, all the duties relating to the worship of the Gods, were called religiosi, religious, from relegendo “reading over again, or practising;” as elegantes, elegant, ex eligendo, “from choosing, making a good choice;” diligentes, diligent, ex diligendo, “from attending on what we love;” intelligentes, intelligent, from understanding, for the signification is derived in the same manner. Thus are the words superstitious and religious understood; the one being a term of reproach, the other of commendation. » [The treatises of M.T. Cicero On the nature of the gods, …/literally translated … by C.D. Yonge. (Bohn’s classical library) 1853, book 2, section 28, page 71].
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Based on my personal observations of human behaviour, I note that religion has an effect on the people who practise it regularly similar to that of a drug :

• a little tranquillises; too much enslaves; an overdose dehumanises and destroys

Like alcohol and other substances, faith, religion, and superstition should be exercised with moderation. Happily, this seems to be the case, generally speaking, in Australia.

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What makes a person who has been wronged by an enemy forgive their enemy, or one who has murdered a family member, forgive? They do not call for equal justice. Repentance and forgiveness are religious concepts found in Christianity which cannot be by natural reason, logical. Most would want justice which means equal revenge.

If you have worked with prisoners who who have had face to face interviews with those they have wronged, the intent is to bring about repentance and forgiveness. Chaplains working in this area can tell some amazing stories of reconciliation. If you have faith in this system it will bring rewards.

Dear Yuyutsu,

Religion is a universal social institution. It takes
a multitude of forms. Believers may worship gods,
ancestors, or totems. They may practice solitary
meditation, fenzied rituals, or solemn prayer.

Some form of religion has existed in every society
that we know of. Religious beliefs and practices are
so ancient that they can be traced into prehistory.
Even the primitive Neanderthal people of that time,
had some concept of a supernatural realm that lay
beyond everyday reality.

Emile Durkheim, one fo the first sociologists to study
religion, pointed out that a single feature is common to
all religions - and that is - a sharp distinction between
the sacred and the profane.

The sacred is anything that is regarded as part of the
supernatural rather than the ordinary world, as such it
inspires awe, reverence, and deep respect.

Anything can be considered sacred - a god, a rock, the
moon, a king, a symbol such as a cross. On the other hand,
the profane is anything that is regarded as part of the
ordinary rather than the supernatural world.

As such it may be considered familiar, mundane, even
corrupting. Of course the the profane too may be embodied
by a rock, the moon, a king, or a symbol.

Something becomes either sacred or profane when it is
socially defined as such by a community of believers.

Durkheim also observed that a religious community always
approaches the sacred through a ritual - a formal
stylized procedure such as prayer, incantation, or
ceremonial cleansing.

Ritual is a necessary part of religion because the sacred
has extraordinary and even dangerous qualities and must be
approached in a carefully prescribed reverential manner.

We can then say that religion is a system of communally
shared beliefs and rituals that are orientated towards
some sacred, supernatural realm. The phenomenon is of
of such universal social importance that it has long been
and remains a major focus of sociological interest.

I thought I was doing a good thing in starting this thread. Now, I'm not sure I was. Some of the comments make me sick at heart. Some of the comments make me hopeful. Possibly the most interesting was that of Yuyutsu in remarking that Hindus see hope as a weakness. There's a lesson in that. What we think are vices and virtues are merely what we have been conditioned by the tradition that we are part to regard as a vice or a virtue. I was taught to regard faith as a virtue. I now think of it as a vice. Maybe it is neither but something useful in certain circumstances and not useful in other circumstances. That comment helped me think.

Dear Yuyutsu,

As I stated earlier - to me personally I
consider faith as being important. Whether its
faith in God or in something else.

My parents taught me that having faith is so
important in life. Of never giving up - just
because you've found some set backs. Have faith
and persist - and you will succeed. That's been
my motto for survival in this world. It may not
work for everybody - it works for me.

David f,

Maybe Hindus consider hope a sign of weakness because hope has failed so many of them for so long. In any event, hoping is really a totally lost cause, the last resort of the hopeless and the helpless, as only action can produce results, not wishing and hoping - no matter who to, or how fervently.

Alternatively, casual observation would suggest that many Chinese are obsessional believers in hope, if their gambling habits are any indication. Belief in Lady Luck, and appealing to such mystical apparitions who may have influence with Her may also be indicative of 'last resort' inclinations of the bereft, the hopeless.

Generally, some of the posts on this thread make me wonder if some may not in fact have seen '2001 A Space Odyssey' and believed in the final magical portrayal of an infant as being the 'real deal'. The magic of imagery. What, one may wonder, may be the impact on receptive minds of the current computer graphics avalanche dominating so much alternative Sci-fi dominating the cine-sphere. Whatever happened to genuine movie magic, real life, real drama, real human trial and tribulation?

Science, invention and innovation have thus far contributed little to the unraveling of the depths and complexity of the human psyche, and as long as the mystery of 'thought' remains, so will doubt and uncertainty remain - as fertile ground for suggestion and superstition. Of course, the mechanics of brain function may now be portrayed, but even the essence of 'life' in one single human or animal cell remains, and may always remain, inexplicable - as also mitosis, meiosis, and the overall wonder of reproduction.

Of contemplation of Earth, Solar System, Galaxy and Universe, the existence of 'Life' is surely the greatest mystery, the greatest wonder, and the greatest source of potential and of uncertainty.

In faith, one need only be thankful for the opportunity to relate to others, to strive to succeed, and to do no harm.