On 20 Aug 2006 09:50:57 -0700, "Chris H. Fleming"
wrote:


Because it's a tautology when you condsider that belief in
(*) Miraculous and extraordinary events
(*) Supernatural intervention
(*) Angelic apparations
(*) The efficacy of Charms: crucifix, pictures, saint candles
(*) The efficacy of Prayers, Chants, and Ceremony
(*) Biblical Prophecy
(*) ...
are all forms of superstition.

I have many images and statues and articles which are considered holy
objects. They are motivating to me, and the sole reason why they are
here. Then again, I'm a Buddhist who is aethiest. There is no
creator god, but there are people who have purified their minds to the
point they no longer need a body. This could be called superstitious.
The whole of it suits me. I can live a spiritual life and not believe
in god.


My mother is always saying god watches out for her. If she wants to
believe that, and it gives her some solace, I shut my mouth. I don't
engage her in that discussion because I do not believe in god, or that
someone is watching me who created me. It's still nice to allow for
others to have their thoughts and sometimes it's really good to just
shut my mouth.


That sounds like a grade A superstition to me. And I would probably
bite my tongue to. But in a public forum where believers are preaching
to nonbelievers, I think the rules are a bit different. You don't go
out of your way to harrass your mother, and your mother isn't going out
of her way to harrass nonbelievers.

Well, that's kind! My mother is beyond superstition and deep into
mental illness. I don't say this as a mean statement, but at my age I
can no longer ignore it and she has no intention of doing anything
about it at 72.

I do get annoyed within my thoughts when people either blame or give
thanks to an invisible man in the sky. I shrivel up when I'm anywhere
and people are discussing that.

As for believers who harrass non believers, I would ignore them. It's
a problem IMO when someone has to or tends to defend a position as
fact. When asked about reincarnation and if science disproved it, The
Dalai Lama simply said, "Then we will get rid of it immediately!"