SUPERSTITION

SUPERSTITION. → General scriptures concerning Ac 25:19 → INSTANCES OF
* Israelites, supposing that their defeat in battle with the Philistines was due to their not having brought with them the ark of the covenant 1Sa 4:3; with 4:10,11
* Philistines, refusing to step on the threshold of the temple of Dagon after the image of Dagon had repeatedly fallen upon it 1Sa 5:5
* The belief of the Syrians concerning the help of the gods 1Ki 20:23
* Jews, attributing their calamities to having ceased offering sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven Jer 44:17-19
* Nebuchadnezzar, supposing that the spirit of the gods was upon Daniel Da 4:8,9
* The sailors who threw Jonah into the sea Jon 1:4-16
* The disciples, supposing they saw a ghost when Jesus came walking upon the lake Mt 14:26; Mr 6:49,50
* Herod Antipas, imagining that Jesus was actually John the Baptist risen from the dead Mr 6:14,16
* The Gadarenes (Gerasenes, Gergasenes), because Jesus expelled demons out of the man who lived among the tombs Mt 8:34
* The disciples who were frightened at the appearance of Peter Ac 12:14,15
* The Ephesians, in their sorceries Ac 19:13-19
* The people of the island of Melita (Malta), in assuming that Paul was some sort of god Ac 28:6
* See IDOLATRY
* See SORCERY

---

superstition. Superstition, n. false devotion or religion, bigotry

---

Su′per‐sti″tion (?), n. [[F. superstition, L. superstitio, originally, a standing still over or by a thing; hence, amazement, wonder, dread, especially of the divine or supernatural, fr. superstare to stand over; super over + stare to stand. See Super-, and Stand.]] 1. 1. An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.
2. 2. An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion.
And the truth With superstitions and traditions taint. Milton. 3. 3. The worship of a false god or gods; false religion; religious veneration for objects.
had certain questions against him of their own superstition. Acts xxv. 19. 4. 4. Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.
5. 5. Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.
Syn. — Fanaticism. — Superstition, Fanaticism. Superstition springs from religious feeling misdirected or unenlightened. Fanaticism arises from this same feeling in a state of high-wrought and self-confident excitement. The former leads in some cases to excessive rigor in religious opinions or practice; in others, to unfounded belief in extraordinary events or in charms, omens, and prognostics, hence producing weak fears, or excessive scrupulosity as to outward observances. The latter gives rise to an utter disregard of reason under the false assumption of enjoying a guidance directly inspired. Fanaticism has a secondary sense as applied to politics, etc., which corresponds to the primary.