Do you touch wood and 
cross your fingers for luck? Why are so many of us still superstitious? Especially today with our vast knowledge and proof to distinguish between fact and fiction.
According to one would-be expert, it’s because people feel increasingly vulnerable during times of conflict and uncertainty.
Lionel Fanthorpe, president of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena, said:
“It is not a safe or peaceful world we live in, so superstition appeals more to people when they are nervous or anxious about the social or political situation.�
A recent study highlighted by Ben Schott’s Almanac of Belief and published in today’s Times shows:
- 31 per cent of people who say they’re ‘not superstitious’ believe in ghosts
- 42 per cent of respondents who considered themselves not to be superstitious would still touch wood before any perilous undertaking
I believe we are less superstitious today, that fewer of us bother about walking under a ladder, or believe in ghosts. But I am fascinated about paranormal experiences, do you know of any?
And don’t worry if you see any “ghosts” today, just remember it is Halloween.
*You might like these Halloween pics posted by JMB.
No, not superstitious nor do I believe in ghosts. I hope I’m right! Thanks for the link Ellee, it’s a great place indeed.
Happy Halloween, Ellee!
So enjoy and have a ‘happy’ halloween.
According to rational physics there are no ‘ghosts, and we know the northern lights are not souls of scandinavian warriors, but particles.
But of course ‘rifts’ in spacetime are still ‘theoretically’ possible, opening doors wormholes (or stargates) to other worlds
I wonder if religion is a socially acceptable form of superstition? Rather than touching wood we confess or pray or run rosary beads through our fingers.
It is certainly a belief in magic but calling it the miracle of an invisible creator makes it all sound more grown up. And there’s a hefty dose of fear thrown in. Fear from eternal damnation, that’s eternal damnation if you don’t jump through the hoops interpreted or just plain made up by men long dead.
Talk to a creationist for about 5 mins then tell me superstition is stupid – after all, walking under ladders is dumb; there’s usually someone on the ladder who can drop a paint can on your head.
I’m not remotely superstitious and nothing bad has happened to me so far – touch wood.
I’m not superstitious… exactly…. it’s just that I’m cautious…. Yes, that’s it: Cautious. So what if I walk a block or two out of my way to avoid crossing a black cat’s path? Walking is good exercise, right?
Seriously, there are more things in heaven and on earth than are dreamed of in our philosophies….
WW, the Ben Schott study on superstition was timed to coincide with Halloween, they assumed a link between superstition and ghosts, it’s all connected to the paranormal.
I don’t see the link between superstition and ghosts
I’m superstitious about some things and about others I just don’t take chances! I’m not superstitious about 13 but I am about broken mirrors and walking under ladders. And I have my own superstition about wearing velvet – it will signify the end of a romance!!