Why do people still react to natural phenomena with ancient superstition?
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
September 27, 2015 5:21pm CST
So the Moon is about to be eclipsed by the Earth's shadow at the same time as a "blood Moon" event takes place. Agreed, this is a very rare happening and of considerable interest to many people.
But I am reading comments on various sites to the effect that this could herald some terrible event, or be the "beginning of the end" of mankind! The astrologers are having a field day in terms of its significance.
It amazes me that otherwise intelligent people can still harbour the same superstitious thoughts that would have occurred to the ancient Egyptians or Sumerians, and believe that the Gods are angry, or that some great evil is about to overtake us. This is 2015 AD not BC for goodness sake!
Don't you sometimes wish that your fellow men would just grow up and stop believing in myths, fairies at the bottom of the garden, and other nonsense of like kind?
11 people like this
14 responses
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Sep 15
It is really unbelievable that people think a random occurrence of an eclipse is the harbinger of bad things to come! People are very gullible, and so these "doomsday" fear mongers take advantage of that! Tomorrow, we'll all wake up and nothing will have changed, life will still go on just as it would have if there wasn't an eclipse!
2 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
27 Sep 15
Absolutely! Of course, life will only be normal for those who have not been attacked by werewolves in the night!
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep 15
@bookbar I wish our day was as beautiful as yours! Unfortunately, it was cloudy and rainy here where I live!
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
27 Sep 15
they'll feel pretty dumb tomorrow when nothing bad has happened - they were showing 2012 last week on TV - based on Mayan prophesies of that end of the world we all suffered three years ago - guess I must have slept through that one.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
29 Sep 15
@bookbar some do realize and give up. Others just work out a fresh date and hope for the end again.
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
27 Sep 15
Some people like catastrophology, others like drama. I don't think I can explain it and I am trying to be selective when reading the news. I would like to see the moon eclipse but it's at 4:30 am in my country and I have to wake up at 7 for work. Maybe I will set the alarm since it's so rare to see this phenomenon.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
28 Sep 15
No. I don't sometimes wish men would just grow up, etc.
But I always pray my fellow men would just learn how to live in peace.
I got an opinion. People still react to natural phenomena with ancient superstition for two reasons.
(1) They don't know how to explain the phenomena but want to try to offer an explanation so they won't feel completely in the dark about it.
(2) Scientists are supposed to be helping us understand our world by doing all that research. But even though the job has a steady paycheck in it, they aren't really doing a good job of supplying the answers.
(It's just humor. I'm not a science hater. But it's true!)
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
29 Sep 15
@indexer - One could say that and one would be correct! 
But then the person would just debate with you over the definition of "superstition".
I like talking with you. You've only been here a couple of weeks but you got my attention. Thanks for following me.
But then the person would just debate with you over the definition of "superstition".
I like talking with you. You've only been here a couple of weeks but you got my attention. Thanks for following me. 
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
28 Sep 15
The solstices are regarded pretty ominously here, in India.
1 person likes this
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
28 Sep 15
@indexer No way, these dogmas are so deeply embedded, almost unshakable. It is quite common for rich men to distribute alms, whenever these solstices occur.
@excellence7 (3655)
• Mauritius
28 Sep 15
I think there is a fear - a fear to question and a fear to face the truth. People have been living as products of this society. Each and every generation are nothing but a product of what the previous generation wants them to be. Likewise, superstition has been flowing from generations to generations and it has somehow shackled mankind. I salute those who have the courage to question and to accept the truth - proven and scientific truths.I don't believe in superstition.
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
28 Sep 15
Not at all. I am superstitious and love faeries haah
But I do agree with you on the silliness of this doom rubbish at the moon.
But I do agree with you on the silliness of this doom rubbish at the moon.
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
28 Sep 15
It's more because of timing than the event itself. The last several tetrads that have happened came with bad events in history. This moon tonight is the 4th in a series. It is also a super moon, and a long eclipse. There is power in the light of the moon, but not scientific in any means.
@joylol (148)
• Austin, Texas
30 Sep 15
Some superstitions are indeed ridiculous, especially if it halts you from moving forward. But some of these superstitions give me interesting ideas for fictional stories,lol. Is it strange that I like ridiculous superstitions cause they bring up interesting ideas for fanfics or novels? ^_^
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
28 Sep 15
Brother John - ( @indexer ) - I am not sure about the why of folks sweating things like eclipses of the moon. I thought that everyone knew that the moon is a very harmless thing out there in the middle of nowhere. It should be no more worrisome to humans than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The moon is just a great big blob of green cheese. It does have a dictator, however, who could cause trouble to earthlings like you and me... He is called the "Liederkranz of the Moon" and may be the only one of them up there who knows how to spell that. 
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
28 Sep 15
Is this Moon guy of German extraction the only one who knows what a "crown of songs" is?
@Freelanzer (10743)
• Canada
28 Sep 15
People are generally superstitious, even some good Christians I know. I too have my own superstitions but I wish there was another more intelligent and insightful term for it. it all has to do with how people view life, how they are able to cope and what makes them feel safe or in control. I generally see it as harmless unless you allow it to rule your life.
