Editorial August 17, 1929 Issue

Overcoming Superstition

Albert F. Gilmore

Mortals in general, it seems, are little aware of the measure of influence which superstition exercises over them, even controlling many of the events in their daily lives. Belief in some mysterious, occult power which makes for evil has a much stronger hold than is commonly recognized. And while the nature of this seeming power is unknown to them, that its influence is usually malign and harmful is generally accepted.

Superstition has played a large part in the religious beliefs of the world, for religion, dealing as it does with that which is beyond the grasp of the material senses, readily lends itself to mysticism, to belief in evil as power. A definition of superstition found in the Oxford Dictionary clearly sets this forth: "An irrational religious belief or practice; a tenet, scruple, or habit founded on fear or ignorance." Superstition, then, has no basis in reason: it is not founded on fact, but belief—on fear and ignorance. Looked at in the light of reason, how irrational and futile is superstition.

Christian Science renders a great service to mankind in the exposure and destruction of superstition in its every phase. Why? Because Christian Science is founded upon Truth, upon demonstrated Truth, and is wholly free from the occult and mysterious. Moreover, superstition springs from fear; from fear inspired by ignorant belief in evil—that evil is as real as good. Christian Science, on the basis of God's allness, His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, utterly denies this assumption. Since God, good, is infinite, is All, there can be nothing in addition to the goodness which is infinite. This reasoning, precluding as it does belief in evil, destroys fear, the very foundation of superstition.

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