prasad1
Active member
Superstitions are deep-rooted, unreasonable and irrational beliefs, which have no profundity. Still, superstitions are the legacy of every civilization and are inherited by the succeeding generations. It was once believed that superstitions could be rooted out with the spread of education. But these have continued to linger with us through the generations.
Superstitions originated, perhaps, when man was at the mercy of the natural elements. He held them in awe. He respected and worshipped the forces of nature like the sun, the moon, wind and water. He worshipped fire because of its destructive ability. When man started falling prey to diseases he started appeasing the gods with offerings, prayers, penances and sacrifices to ward off evil spirits.
In today's scientific world, it is necessary that we do not blindly follow all the superstitions that were passed on to us by our ancestors. We are modem, both in our outlook and the age we are in. Therefore, we should have a judicious approach and look for some logical reason behind every superstition. We would, then, be able to give up those superstitions which have no rationality and application in today's life. It is only in this way that we can lead normal lives, befitting the citizens of the scientific era.
Source: An article published in "Wisdom" magazine in July, 2008 by Rahul Raj
Superstitions erect an absolute monarchy in the minds of Indians. As a result, most of the Indians follow the dictates of superstitions with the hope that there might be ‘something’ in them. They don’t question the beliefs and customs handed out to them.
Stressing the importance of ‘spirit of enquiry’ Mr. R.G.Ingersoll (1833-1899) says, “Man should think; he should use all his senses; he should examine; he should reason. The man who cannot think is less than man; the man who will not think is a traitor to himself. The man who fears to think is superstitions’ slave.
As per this yardstick, large number of Indians are the slaves of superstitions since they fear to doubt their beliefs and put them to logical and rational analysis. By performing meaningless rituals and ceremonies, they imagine themselves as religious and pious. They are unaware that they are ignorant. To change the condition, spirit of enquiry needs to be encouraged at all levels. People should be motivated to think rationally and review all our values. They should be encouraged to discard the useless and senseless values and at the same time abide by the meaningful values.
Superstitions originated, perhaps, when man was at the mercy of the natural elements. He held them in awe. He respected and worshipped the forces of nature like the sun, the moon, wind and water. He worshipped fire because of its destructive ability. When man started falling prey to diseases he started appeasing the gods with offerings, prayers, penances and sacrifices to ward off evil spirits.
In today's scientific world, it is necessary that we do not blindly follow all the superstitions that were passed on to us by our ancestors. We are modem, both in our outlook and the age we are in. Therefore, we should have a judicious approach and look for some logical reason behind every superstition. We would, then, be able to give up those superstitions which have no rationality and application in today's life. It is only in this way that we can lead normal lives, befitting the citizens of the scientific era.
Source: An article published in "Wisdom" magazine in July, 2008 by Rahul Raj
Superstitions erect an absolute monarchy in the minds of Indians. As a result, most of the Indians follow the dictates of superstitions with the hope that there might be ‘something’ in them. They don’t question the beliefs and customs handed out to them.
Stressing the importance of ‘spirit of enquiry’ Mr. R.G.Ingersoll (1833-1899) says, “Man should think; he should use all his senses; he should examine; he should reason. The man who cannot think is less than man; the man who will not think is a traitor to himself. The man who fears to think is superstitions’ slave.
As per this yardstick, large number of Indians are the slaves of superstitions since they fear to doubt their beliefs and put them to logical and rational analysis. By performing meaningless rituals and ceremonies, they imagine themselves as religious and pious. They are unaware that they are ignorant. To change the condition, spirit of enquiry needs to be encouraged at all levels. People should be motivated to think rationally and review all our values. They should be encouraged to discard the useless and senseless values and at the same time abide by the meaningful values.
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