From: ata@hfsi.uucp (John Ata - FSO)
Subject: Re: Reincarnation
Organization: HFS, Inc., McLean VA
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 22:49:30 GMT

In article <1a4rjkINNf10@gap.caltech.edu> carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU writes:
>In article <1992Sep26.145922.22060@hfsi.uucp>, ata@hfsi.uucp (John Ata - FSO) writes:
>=>But how does one differentiate "religious beliefs" from "superstition"?
>
>=Rich, the dictionary defines religious beliefs as those beliefs
>=concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe
>=especially belief or worship in God or gods.  Superstition, on the
>=other hand is defined as an irrational belief in the ominous
>=significance of a particular thing or circumstance.
>
>Hmmm.  That seems a rather odd definition of superstition.  It means, among
>other things, that a belief that a rabbit's foot will bring good luck is *NOT*
>a superstition.  Please let us know what dictionary you use, so that we can
>avoid repeating your mistake in purchasing it.

I'm afraid I don't follow you.  How does belief in a rabbit's foot tell you
anything about the cause of the universe?  How does it tell you anything 
about the nature of the universe (in general now, since any fact tells you
something about the universe)?  How does it tell you about the purpose
of the universe? How does it relate to God or gods?

>
>Now, according to _Webster's_Ninth_New_Collegiate_Dictionary_:
>	religion:  1a1)	the service or worship of God or the supernatural
>		   1a2)	commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
>		   1b)	the state of a religious
>		   2)	a personal set or institutionalized system or religious
>			attitudes, beliefs, and practices
>		   3)	(archaic) scrupulous confirmity
>		   4)	a cause, principle, or system of beliefs helt do with
>			ardor and faith
>	religious: 1)	relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an
>			acknowledged ultimate reality or deity
>		   2)	of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or
>			observances
>		   3a)	scrupulously and conscientiously faithful
>		   3b)	FERVENT, ZEALOUS
>	superstition:
>		   1a)	a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of
>			the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false
>			conception of causation
>		   1b)	an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the
>			supernatural, nature, or God, resulting from
>			superstition
>		   2)	a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
>
>Now, it appears to me that there's considerable overlap here.  
>
>=Therfore, in my mind, if somone has a set of beliefs that deal basically with
>=the first definition, then even if the set of beliefs consist of
>=something which we may think as irrational doom & gloom, I would
>=put it in the first category.
>
>In other words, some superstitions can be religion, and vice versa.
>=If however, I have an isolated
>=belief e.g. if I knock on wood three times, I am averting
>=disaster, this would be a superstition since it does not tie in
>=any way with the first definition.  Does this make sense to you?
>
>No, and furthermore, it doesn't answer the question.  For example, is praying
>to God in the hopes that this will keep you from spending eternity in hell
>religion or superstition?  Sure sounds like both to me.

That would definitely fit in the first category.  Like I said before (and
you trimmed out) beliefs that are considered irrational by some are religious
beliefs if they fit in the first definition.

>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL


-- 
John G. Ata - Technical Consultant | Internet:  ata@hfsi.com
HFS, Inc.		  VA20     |     UUCP:  uunet!hfsi!ata
7900 Westpark Drive	 MS:601	   |    Voice:	(703) 827-6810
McLean, VA  22102	           |      FAX:	(703) 827-3729