Superstition - The Religion Of Feeble Minds.

Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

Human spirit is the ability to face the uncertainty of the future with curiosity and optimism. It is the belief that problems can be solved, differences resolved. It is a type of confidence. And it is fragile. It can be blackened by fear and superstition.

Superstitions mostly are the outcome of ignorance, outdated and unwanted beliefs and backwardness. In the age of scientific reasoning, logic and progress, superstitions still cloud the mind of the common man. Superstitions maybe defined as illogical or unreasonable beliefs, acceptance of certain phenomenon as it is without trying to know its cause etc. It also involves belief in omens, charms, demons, witches, useless ceremonies and in the existence of supernatural beings.

The West-to an extent- has been successful in erasing out superstitious beliefs through the spread of education and public awareness. Superstitions have greater hold in the still developing countries and the Orient. Somehow the Orient has always been equated to exotic settings, remote places and strange happenings. The forest of Africa were believed to have a hypnotizing and mesmerizing qualities. People changed and got transformed in Africa. India for long was considered as a land of snake charmers, magicians, witches and strange sights.

The indian society,in the modern era,due to ignorance and lack of education has deeply fallen into the ditch of superstitions. The more progressive and scientific we were during ancient times the more backward,ignorant and superstitious we have become in the modern era. Only a small fraction of society which is educated and open-minded is free from the clutches of superstitions to some extent. The condition of rural class or the uneducated masses is the worse who don't even want to change.

One should not leave home if anyone's sneezes or sees a man with and empty pitcher or if a cat crosses the path and heaven protects if the cat is black. These are signs of unsuccessful ventures or ill- luck.To see a one- eyed person early in the morning or a widow is sure to have a bad day. The hooting of an owl and the howling of a dog are all signs of ill-luck or even death. The crowing if a crow,the falling of a comb is a sign of forthcoming guests. One should not wear perfumes while crossing a cemetery or walk under a Peepal trees during afternoon time or eat sweets and pass through a graveyard or else one will surely get afflicted by ghosts.

One should not walk through cross-roads from right in the middle as again ghosts might capture you. If one drinks milk of a domesticated cow, one should never stand and drink milk as it might reduce the milk production of the cow. Itching of the right palm of a man's hand signifies good luck and of the left palm ill- lucked. A similar thing is believed with the twitching of the eyes. Itching of the sole of the feet indicates that a journey is to be undertaken near future.

Ignorance and superstition ever bear a close and mathematical relation to each other.
Superstition is the irrational belief that an object or behaviour has the power to influence an outcome, when there's no logical connection between them. Most of us aren't superstitious - but most of us are a 'littlestitious.'

Women are found more susceptible to superstitious. Maybe because it was the female section of the society that remained uneducated and ignorant for years and years. It is now that women are trying to break free from the unprogressive shackles of superstitions. The only effective weapon against the cobwebs of superstitions us education, awareness and development of scientific attitude as well as aptitude.

One of the things that always fascinated me about the Renaissance was that it was a time both of great scientific discovery and also of superstition and belief in magic. And so it was a period in which Galileo invented the telescope, but also a time when hundreds were burned at the stake because people thought they were witches.