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In the previous post, we considered a number of definitions for superstition. Not surprisingly, many of those definitions involved god and religion. I provided my own definition as the belief in the unnatural. The reason god and religion are so tied up in superstition is that in order for something unnatural to happen, someone or something beyond nature, has to pull back the curtains of nature to make the unnatural a reality in this world. That most commonly involves god and religion. To amplify this thought, this post will look specifically at biblical superstition.
Such a journey has to begin with the creation stories. The fact that we have creation stories is a type of superstition. The people of ancient times could not even conceive of presence without directed creation. The idea of evolution is relatively modern. Biblical writers just couldn’t imagine any other way. The six-day creation represents another lack of imagination. They could not even fathom billions of years. It is like asking a two-year old to imagine life a hundred years ago. It is just not possible. To a young species, everything is young and new.
Sin, and the consequences of sin are both superstitions. If there is a creator with many of the same human traits as we have, then his will is law, and breaking that law has consequences. A pre-scientific civilization has no choice but to believe this. But things get a lot more interesting than that.
Almost everything the bible has to say about the nature of the universe is based on superstition. The three-tiered universe is a prime example. God lives in a house above the earth so that he can look down on his creation. Eventually, we worked out that bad people go down into a pit. If you read the first chapter of Genesis to discover the bible’s definition of the firmament, it is rather embarrassing. Then, read about the Tower of Babel. God feared the ability of pre-historic man’s ability to build a tower into heaven. It just shows how small we believed the earth and cosmos to be.
Don’t stop there. At one point, a great warrior enjoined god to stop the sun in the sky to provide more daylight to kill more enemies. Never mind the killing part. We now know the sun does not move relative to the earth, but the other way around. The church actually killed people who dared say differently.
Why do women go into painful labor for child birth? Why is it difficult to grow food? Why do snakes slither on their bellies? Pre-historic man had nothing but superstition to go on. Why do we still use the same answers as if we do not know any better?
Why are people born blind or get sick? Is it a generational curse, or was it so that god could later prove his power by healing such people? The bible has bought into both theories at one point or other. How does a sick person get better? According to the bible, a holy man must perform some type of unnatural ritual, or righteous people must petition an other-worldly alien being for miraculous aid, or the elders of the church must pour oil over the head of the sick. There is nary a mention of germs, medication, surgery, and preventative care. Even though we know about these things, we are still about the business of petitioning the great, other-worldly being for aid, as if that will be just as affective as antibiotics.
What happens to us when we die, other than the fact that we die? According to the bible, we rest, but could be brought back by a medium for aid. This actually happened in the holy writ. In other parts of the bible, we spend eternity in a good place or a bad place, depending on how we are judged. We even have details about these places. One has big houses for everyone and streets made of gold. The other has an unquenchable fire that provides and eternal source of torment. Even in the bible, no one has been to either of these places and reported back on the details. Yet, we fill our sermons and eulogies with these superstitious images as if we had seen video from the great beyond.
Where are the storehouses of snow and sleet? According to the god of Job, they are in the land of Heaven just above the earth. We do not believe this, yet we treat the book of Job, and the god of Job as if both should be taken seriously.
So far, I am just talking about biblical superstition. Extra-biblical, religious superstitions go even further. More people have seen the beatific face of Mary in the clouds, or in a bowl of cornflakes than there are victims of alien abductions. Throughout history, at least as many babies have been tossed into volcanos as have been baptized or circumcised. For many, the cross, or just the sign of the cross is more useful for warding off evil spirits as it is for adornment. Need I even get into Islam, ancient and modern? Mormonism? Snake handling? That last is quite biblical. Witchcraft? Voodoo? It is all superstitious-based religion.
The real question is, how do we define the difference between superstition and acceptable religion. That will be the focus of part three of this series. After that, I promise to get back to the sacraments.
Without commentary, I will simply post the letter I just sent off to 6 on Your Side, minus my contact information.
My name is David Johnson and I am legally blind. A few hours ago, I was asked to leave, ordered to leave the premisses of the Churches Chicken a few blocks from my house. I was using a magnifier app on my iPhone to read the overhead menu. I cannot read it otherwise. I was told by a worker that I could not take pictures of the menu, and was told to stop. I let her know I was not taking pictures or video.
She got the manager who harshly reiterated that I had to stop what I was doing or leave. I explained that I was legally blind and using a magnifier to read the menu. I even tried to show him the working app so he could see for himself. He did not want to see it and angrily insisted that I need to get out of his store. I calmly, but firmly said, no. I continued to explain to him that I was blind and needed the assistive technology to order. He threatened to call the police if I didn’t leave. I told him where I would be sitting when the police arrived. He called. I waited. The police arrived.
I was first to speak to the officer when he got there. The manager came out and proceeded to make a big scene insisting that he wanted me out of the store. My friend and I went outside with the officer. My friend, Louise Everett, is also blind. We had an amiable chat with the officer, C. Bailey. He told us it would be best to take it up with corporate and not return to the restaurant. He was going to send us on our way. I requested that he write a report. He agreed.
Louise and I were outside of the restaurant with the police officer for what seemed like about 30 minutes as he filled out the report. I have no problems with the way the officer handled the situation. As a person with a disability, I felt the tremendous weight of discrimination as my friend and I were publicly humiliated for no better reason than our disability. I know there are laws that should protect us, but laws offer no real protection from discrimination. I do not need a law. The ADA is sufficient. The law resides in a book, far away from the realities of a Churches Chicken, and personnel unfamiliar with the law.
I am asking you to be the voice that I do not have. Shine a light in this dark corner of the city where the law does not reach. Thank you for any help you can provide.
Watching the horses outside in the snow, Joan tried to be thankful. “Every day write down three things you’re thankful for.”
They were still in love but Silverton, Colorado could never be home. There wasn’t a beach in sight and she hated the snow.
This has been another contribution to Friday Fictioneers. This week’s photo prompt was taken by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. You can click through to the linky here.
This entry was posted in Australia, Love, Writing and tagged Australia, expat, family, Friday Fictioneers, horses, love, marriage, positive thinking, romance, USA, War Brides, WWII on December 14, 2016 by Rowena.	
I can’t imagine moving that far from home. In a few short words you created a three dimensional character in Joan, her culture shock, her regrets. I hope the marriage is a good one, though. Well done.
Lovely. Silverton is in my state, but not sure someone couldn’t be charmed with its Wild West persona. 😉
Touching take Rowena, big questions about whether it is worth giving up everything for one person. I can see her giving him an ultimatum soon. Well done.
This is so real.. a place for from home, a place that’s not what you want. We demand a lot for love to compensate it all… maybe California would work.
Thanks very much, Michael. It’s funny how these ideas come to me. I’m Australian and although we’ve been skiing, I didn’t relate to the setting of the photo at all and started thinking about the differences in temperature in the Northern & Southern hemispheres this time of year. Here I was last night in almost 40degree celsius heat with bush fires raging locally looking at the snow.
I know what you mean. I have two kids and I really am hoping to get some income via my writing because even thought they’re now 12 and 10, they still need me around, especially after school. Strangely, I think they’ll need me more because like does become incredibly complex for teenagers and they need someone on their side.
Interesting you mentioned California. I’ve never been to America but my husband spent 3 months in California almost 20b years ago. So, I asked him for a fairly remote cold place and he put me onto Silverton. Yes, I agree with you that going to a place with a similar climate and the beach would’ve made the transition easier.
On another level, most relationships have there points of difference, especially as opposites so often attract. I remember hearing something about compromise meaning nobody is happy.
I had relationships when I was younger where I ended up losing myself in their world without realizing what was going on. Whether it’s being an extrovert, a writer, having a high level of empathy, I don’t know. I find it quite easy to step into someone else’s shoes at least initially but then there’s that realization that you’re not longing living your own life. That you have been absorbed by that person to the extent that you’re no longer yourself. This isn’t all bad because you find new interests and extend yourself but it can end up with that loss of self and building resentment, resulting in an ultimatum or series mental health problems. xx Rowena
Writing this story has made me think of those war brides who left Australia for America. I have been that in love that I’ve thrown it all in myself but now that I’m more “mature”, it seems crazy. Falling in love is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, which is more than a little scary.
Thank you very much, Sandra. I don’t remember having much in the way of rational thought when I’ve fallen in love, which is a real concern now as a parent. Yikes! Forget Dad having the shot gun. They’ll have to deal with Mum!
I’ve been to Silverton in the summer. Lovely tourist town. Pretty sure I wouldn’t want to like in Colorado year round. I have some friends who do and shoveling snow twice a day for 5 months doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.
Hard to understand how the love has survived as she resents leaving her home so much, but it’s a good job it has!
I enjoyed this one, Rowena. I think it would be very difficult to move so far away from my loved ones. When I last moved, I made sure I moved within a half hour’s drive of the airport so I could get in and out and my kids could come see me. Funny thing, they all followed me at different times so we are all within a three hour drive. Much easier that way. I don’t think I could live far from my kids and grand kids.
She certainly seems to be facing make or break point in her relationship. I can’t help hoping she finds reasons to stay. Though I’d struggle if I was away from the sea for too long.
It’s actually a story which could become a novel if I was so inclined. Have her return to Australia for a visit and realise how much she and everyone else has changed.
My husband comes from Scottsdale in Tasmania and we’re going down to show the kids where he’s from. It’s going to be a real journey of exploration and we’ll be camping a bit to keep the costs down too. That’s going to be a learning curve for me, especially with my health issues. I’ve been really well lately so I’m looking forward to and feeling capable of meeting the challenge.
I am so with you, Corina. My parents live an hour away and even that becomes an obstacle at times. Mum hurt her back recently and was in hospital but I couldn’t get down until the weekend because of the kids. She wasn’t really wanting visitors either so she also let me off the hook. We wouldn’t consider moving away while they’re still with us. My mum in particular has been such a part of the kids’ lives. She’s come up every Wednesday since my son was born almost 13 years ago with a few exceptions. She’s picked them up from school so been such a part of their lives. That’s so special. My Dad retired last year but pretty much keeps to himself…not that he’s quite realised that.
Hope you enjoy the lead up to Christmas and get everything done. It was so hot here today that my son’s ipad told him it needed to cool down before he could use it. He came in here and turned on the air con. Weird world we live in these days.