Q&A for How to Stop Being Superstitious

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How can I avoid superstitions?

Community Answer

The article has many excellent suggestions. But rather than trying to avoid them, try to recognize them and make a choice to not accept them at face value. Read the history behind why there are superstitions about things in this world, to understand the origins and to understand that they are used as crutches to excuse inaction, bad actions and poor decision-making. Accept that bad things happen in life too, just as good things happen. Sometimes there is a cause, sometimes there isn't, but attributing the bad things to black cats, ladders, broken mirrors and the number 13 is just a means of making excuses and keeps you afraid and ignorant rather than enlightened and competent.

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Question

How can I convince someone that superstition is wrong?

Community Answer

Try telling them that things happen for a reason and there are no coincidences.

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Question

Where do superstitious beliefs come from?

Community Answer

Superstitious beliefs come from the desire to understand and assign meaning to things that happen in life, like certain sports players use "lucky" talismans or do certain things before a match to help them feel like they have power over the outcome.

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What do I do if I'm surrounded by superstitious people?

Community Answer

Acknowledge their beliefs and honor them, but that does not mean you have to follow said beliefs.

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Why do some people think the number three is unlucky?

Community Answer

For some people, bad things come in pairs of three -- 666, KKK, German Reiches and Jesus was dead for three days. However, good things come in threes too, like three wishes, the Three Stooges, the Three Musketeers, etc. If you search hard enough, you'll find every number is considered unlucky or lucky depending on the culture, the person and the slant a believer chooses to take.

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