In Reply to: sure posted by regina_k on Monday, 17. March 2008 at 20:22 Bali Time:
..not believing is one thing, calling it 'superstition' is something quite different. One is criticism, the other insulting. For centuries,Hinduism was dismissed by the West as a vile, idolatrous religion that had few redeeming qualities. BTW, very many of the more common superstitions that we all share (such as black cats, breaking mirrors) are somewhat twisted remnants of very old European belief systems that were discredited by Christianity, but still survive as 'odd' ritual behaviors and beliefs. "step on a crack...." to someone from Mars that could be just as mysterious as the raising of the host. I am only urging caution in the use of the word 'superstition' as regarding cultures that are wildly different than our own. If you like, we can agree to disagree. I am certainly not looking for an argument.