Superstitious belief has survived throughout the epochs. Although it has experienced variation resulting many of the world’s civilisations and communities have their own brand of superstition. Although these beliefs differ from each other on the basis of practices, they share one common trait that sets the belief. Superstition is a belief in supernatural causality. It is the belief that one event leads to the cause of another without any process in the physical world linking the two events. In fact, it is totally absurd to believe that superstition has no standing what so ever in solving problems because superstition helps to regulate our conduct and behaviour in public, superstition provides a chance for the elders to play their roles, and superstition functions as a personal moderator.
Superstition helps to regulate our conduct and behaviour in public. With its own interpretation of bad and good, it regulates the public with a unique brand of norms. The public would then maintain their conduct and would not go beyond the imaginary line of what is considered as taboo. For example, Malaysians believe that it is bad luck to give a knife by hand to anyone who requires it. A person would put the knife on a table or any other surface and the other would pick it up. By logic, this will avoid any mishaps from occurring. The worst case scenario is that the knife would accidently harm the other person. The mentioned superstitious belief will avoid this disaster from happening.
Superstition provides a chance for elders to play their roles in maintaining the family. Traditionally, seniority is well acknowledged since experience is unattainable by the youth. Although elders would conjure up stories to rationalize their teachings and actions, it still plays the role of enabling the influence of the elders upon the youth. Their views would be respected and their voices would be heard. The tribe or clan would refer to a single elder in their disputes and misunderstandings. Envisaging the elder as the sole authority, he would be judge, jury and peacekeeper. It is essential in order to control the later generation. Disrespect and rebellion can be successfully avoided and peace would be maintained.
Superstition functions as a personal moderator. Most superstitions have their roots in at least semi-logical behaviours. Walking under a ladder, for example, is always a bad idea. As is breaking a mirror, often the only piece of glass in ancient homes because it would take seven years to clean up, and you'd probably be cut every time you tried. "Black" or any other colour of cat was probably crossing your path in its hunt for a rat, and rats carried plague. Food restrictions once made some sense, too (and often still do). Pork, for example, was notorious for carrying trichinosis, and shellfish, especially from warmer waters, all but guaranteed serious gastro-intestinal illness.
On the contrary, some people would view that superstitions are incapable of solving problems what so ever. It is believed that superstitions are not the solution, but actually is the cause of it. Superstition will fuel mankind with irrational paranoia and insane fear. There has been a case reported of people hacking a 70 year old woman with her daughter and grandson because they were accused of witchcraft. In history, the witch hunts which resulted in massive executions were on the basis of superstitious belief. How can the generation of today allow such irrational beliefs exploit our sanity?
It is undeniable that the previous catastrophes were gruesome and inhumane. However, it is unfair that sole belief in superstition is to be blamed since they were actually the product of insecurity the society had at that age. People were irrational and they killed because they were afraid of what they know nothing of. In addition, their actions were more religious rather than superstitious. Their Christian faith condemned witchcraft and their priests condemned any witches that were found to death by hanging, drowning and beheading. Blind faith in their priests had led them to disastrous ends. Thus, their superstitious belief had no role in justifying their actions.
Verily, superstitions do play an important role in the daily lives of men. Despite that seemed illogical, superstitions have their contribution in helping to regulate our conduct and behaviour in public, providing a chance for the elders to play their roles, and functioning as a personal moderator.
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