Superstition Is Fear Of Uncertainty
Superstition is a civilizational curse. It has kept us alive at times, shielding us from uncertainty, but overall it has done more harm to society than good. At its core, superstition is an attempt to impose certainty on uncertain events. Two things may happen simultaneously, and we connect them through a bridge called superstition.
The antidote to this is knowledge. The god lies in the details — in the intricacies of life and nature. The more you understand why things happen, the more you’ll be fascinated by the universe’s intricate patterns rather than lulled by false certainty. A peacock’s dance may coincide with the monsoon, but the peacock does not bring the rain — that is superstition.
And yet, superstition also provides hope. We knock on wood for good luck. We wear charms to feel protected. People argue that if these rituals offer comfort, strength, and confidence, why bother stopping them? I agree — up to a point. The danger is that we may forget to separate the positive from the negative. How do we know which superstitions are harmless and which are harmful? Two negatives never create a positive.
When you fail to dissect truth from coincidence, you create room for superstition to thrive. For instance, the belief that whey protein damages kidneys has become so widespread it resembles a superstition. Such myths persist because people avoid the effort of seeking the truth. Our faith in mystical notions often outweighs our faith in logic and science.
Superstitions endure because of our need for certainty, our avoidance of critical thinking, and our reluctance to challenge assumptions. Challenge every notion. Study its origins through a historical lens, and you’ll see how superstitions can grip entire civilizations. Ultimately, how comfortable you are with uncertainty will determine how many superstitions you allow to take root in your life.