Superstition

Superstition is widely known by us smart-asses to be the bane of all humanity. This simple thought, true and tidy, is a comfortable one within the post-Christian, bipolar reasoning of capitalist humanitarianism: superstition is a mistake, therefore atheism, the lack of superstition, is success. Even us real smart-asses, the ones who look down on capitalist humanism, take this road. There is so much in the realm of non-superstition, it seems, and so little use in putting attitudes down (if there is one thing in the world that refuses to change when asked to, it is an attitude), that the laziness in not pursuing such a dark road seems will to power adherent.

Yet the uber smart-asses know this is a field that bears much, much work. Like politics, like maths, superstition is used by The People lamely, superficially. It is not the superstition that is the problem, but the way it is used and even the word "superstition."

What is it about superstition that bears greater research and work?

Among human drives, it is the one that most steadfastly holds purpose. It is some expression of this instinct that in every man leads to the bearability of the lightness of being. Put in an evolutionist perspective, it is that in terms of instinct which responds to the human animal's need for purpose beyond tradition, every-dayism. That which makes tradition and every-dayism a decent price to pay to stay alive.

It is a deep feeling, a lovely one, and like all feelings informs us about life. Also like all feelings, it is fetishizeable, one can convince one's self that a need has been met by offering theories, ideas about the future, that promise it has already been quelled or will soon be. This is a sad sign of weakness, and a non-philosopher must set his aim on working with superstition and giving answers to the needs without getting put off by the shitty answers already used; or getting fooled by them!

Like the pathos of this forum, the answers to instincts are never already-there except when they are given. Socrates spoke of remembering instead of learning.

What is this feeling? This beautiful feeling? Burn this priest! Give me the poet! O poet, introduce me to my gods' door mat, or show me the man that can introduce me to the gods themselves!

Actually, burn the poet too. I shall tell you: when something tickles, follow it, and don't drop your things in a mad chase (or do, but remember where you dropped them). This is the door mat: if superstition determines a link between purpose and action, yet we don't have access to the purpose because there is none yet, work backwards. What is it that purpose brings to the table of life beyond superstition? Action, power, you have a reason so that you can do. What is there today that provides the most world-affecting power of doing? Science.

We must find the superstition in science, we must rub its powers on us and follow where it tickles, all the while remembering where its power comes from. Let us allow the misteries back into our hearts, and celebrate the unattainability of full knowledge as a God, or as science might lead us to put it, as a necessary environmental factor of our happiness and existence!

In simple terms (as far as explaining the necessity):

It sucks to have more to do than can be done, and it sucks to have nothing to do. Superstition answers this puzzle: it is religious joy to have much to do within a frame of not being able to do even any clear percentage of what can be done.

The pull of the void as fuel for action, religious superstition as joy that replaces patience, an instinct for the unfinished replacing a construct of ending.

Science is my answer, but I see space for others. The subject is the use of superstition beyond or despite its current use.