Roger Ebert argues that "New Age beliefs are the Creationism of the Progressives." At progressive gatherings, he says, it is unusual for someone to openly admit to Christian fundamentalist beliefs, yet people will discuss their astrological signs and claim to have been royalty in a past life. Although he supports the right to "profess any faith, or none," Ebert thinks that "belief in the scientific truth and application of such beliefs" as creationism or palm reading should be a red flag when the believer is running for public office.
As far as that goes I tend to agree with Ebert, but this is a very slippery topic. People in the West have a tendency to dump all non-Abrahamic religions into a box labeled either "New Age" or "silly affectation." The latter is especially true when the religion is Asian but the practitioner is not.
Certainly, a lot of what is called "New Age" is just an unsorted collection of fanciful ideas and superstitions. Believing that you were a Roman centurion in a past life and hanging crystals all over your house for good luck does not add up to a spiritual path or practice. It's just clinging. On the other hand, I've met people who have made Wicca into a real practice. It's not something I relate to personally, but I respect it.
Finding a difference between between "unsorted collections of superstitions" and "religion" requires clarifying what we mean by "religion." I argue (as does Karen Armstrong) that thinking of religions only as sets of beliefs is a debasement of what religion really is. Religion in the broadest sense is a practice or a means for spiritual insight, transformation or transcendence, not just loyal acceptance of beliefs.
The nature of this transformation is understood differently in the many religious traditions, and one might argue it is primarily psychological. But believing this or that may or may not be among the tools used to bring about this transformation. For the most part Buddhism discourages simply believing things just because we're supposed to. But so did the Christian theologian Saint Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), who taught that faith is a volitional state rather than an epistemic state, and that simply believing things because you think you are supposed to is spiritual death.
Superstition, on the other hand, usually amounts to what psychologists call "magical thinking." Magical thinking takes many forms, but it's often some kind of post hoc, ergo propter hoc rational fallacy. For example, if Sally enjoys unexpected good fortune on the day she was wearing her new pink socks, she might come to believe that the pink socks brought her good luck. Belief in good luck charms does not add up to transformative practice.
Certainly there's a lot of overlap between religion and superstition. In many individuals religion and superstition dwell together in one tangled, messy heap, with dogmas replacing reason and religious icons standing in for lucky pink socks. And all religious beliefs are nutty to people who don't hold them.
The difference, to me, is that superstition is a kind of self-clinging. It is using charms, rituals, or other physical or mental objects to either obtain something one wants or avoid something one doesn't want. But Armstrong calls religion "a transformative way of life that takes you beyond the prism of selfishness." The doctrines or beliefs of the religion are a means to an end, not the end itself.
I'm rambling a bit here. Thoughts?
I think that’s as clear a presentation of the matter as I’ve ever seen. I struggle with these questions a lot as I see teachings that seem to be borrowed from Buddhism injected into or wrapped up with ideas I consider to be dangerous nonsense, such as the “Law of Attraction.” On one hand, if a truth from the Buddhist tradition gives someone some real insight that helps them to be more aware or compassionate, I should be glad for that, no matter where they hear it. On the other hand, it’s often the sheen of credibility, a dose of truthfulness, that allows people to swallow blatant lies. My biggest problem with much New Age thinking is the obvious fallacy that we can control the circumstances of our lives through positive thinking. That’s worse than superstition. It’s the kind of lie that allows rampant selfishness and victim-blaming. It’s also the kind of thing that desperate people will pay a lot of money to hear. The thing that convinces me that Buddhism is the true path (for me, anyway) is that it offers no easy answers, no easy ways out of the muck of existence. Instead, it teaches how to stop wishing our lives away.
I agree with Jaime, Barbara. Wells done.
Superstitions like you mentioned seem more like OCD to me more than anything but the ‘laws of attraction’ junk that is once again making the rounds is a little more complicated in that people who are happy and positive do tend to be treated better so they do get a positive result as far as that goes. I’ve seen this phenomena in my own and others dharma practices also. Once we can separate at least a little from the awful burdens we carry, others begin to sense this and respond positively. After a while we probably don’t even notice that effect as the mind always tends toward ‘normalization’(even when that ‘normal’ is perfectly awful as it so often is). I guess what I’m saying is the ‘positive thinkers’ need to look at the mechanics of the phenomena. Just telling them they are superstitious only strengthens their resolve because they may well have seen positive effects.
I’d like to know what Eberts religious roots are. Is he criticising the ‘new agers’ as a Catholic, or just a cynic? I have a book by a Russian Orthodox guy who lumps US with UFO freaks and Altantis seekers.
Barbara, I love your blog. It really has helped me expand my knowledge of Buddhism.
Excellent quote by Saint Anselm! I find that many of the Christian saints followed a more Mystic form of Christianity than is practiced today, which to me is a shame.
My family is Christian, so I wasn’t going to whoop out some Buddhist know-how at the Thanksgiving table, but I did mention a few of the things that you posted last week about how we should consider whether or not our efforts merit the effort put into making the food. Really got them thinking!
Thanks for another great blog Barbara!!
Noah
I never know what to think about Ebert. The article was rather down to earth but this video links he posted are odd. One is supposed to link new agers with the anti war movement in the 60s but used the word ‘perversion’ and ‘degradation’ like 5 times in the first 2 minutes. It’s an Islamic and I think Orthodox Jewish (they post some rabbis) creationist site. There’s a video of a sermon against astrology.
I thought he was giving examples of whackos but why have two videos where it’s judeo/christians attacking the new agers? This isn’t the first time he’s confused me.
Superstition :
1 belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like.
2. a system or collection of such beliefs.
3. a custom or act based on such a belief.
4. irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, esp. in connection with religion.
5. any blindly accepted belief or notion.
Let me tell you the meaning taken out from Dictionary.com as given above is wrong. Superstition is a superstition when somebody looks from outside. Those who does is doing the same with confidence, faith and knowledge (right or wrong is onlooker’s judgment). Those who thinks killing others is liked by “god” is his knowledge, belief and he thinks fulfilling god’s wish is a complete devotion and brings good for him as well as the person gets killed. When somebody do not believe in that, looks from outside calls it “superstition” because he/she got other set of values and knowledge and programming. Who is more selfless in his service and duty is the person with “superstition”. So many believes that giving things away accumulates merit. Many thinks that Darwin’s theory is true and many thinks it is a superstition. So, when we go like this, we may have to break the barrier of meaning attached with it. Superstition as I understand is many a times knowledge what other’s perceive as wrong. This doesn’t mean that, I am a “superstitious” supporter. Belief is a by product of knowledge. What are all the believes which are wrong…my father used to tell when one lay down sleeps, sleep with the head towards east. I read some article saying the magnetic balance of our body to be aligned with the magnetic power of earth. When my father told this, I questioned, Why we should do so? His answer was that is good for health. My next question was, how it is good for health? His answer was this is advised by learned Ayurvedic ancestors. I ridiculed because there was no “science” to support him than “ancestor’s” dialogue. When a bit of science came with some analysis of “aligning” with earth’s magnetic tilt, I was little convinced.
I carry a gift given by my mother…There is logic from my side as I would like to carry her “love” along with me. I know it is a superstition when somebody looks from outside as how can a “love” be in a pen? If the pen is lost, will the love also go away? I have answer, no, I would like to remember her at least once in a day when I take out my pen to write. This remembrance is my way of returning my love to her. Is it a bad superstition? Then there is something called “nostalgia”. A very close terminology with superstition. I don’t think these clinging can be thrown away till the time we carry the language, meanings, perceptions, cultural bondings, etc. So, after learning Buddhism, I become very careful of calling something “superstitious” only if it harms a living being, or environment or the mental balance and I am convinced through my logic, I call it by that name…or else, I leave it for themselves to decide….so let us not call “all rituals” are superstition…may be the person doing is because his ancestor’s cannot be wrong…but can be there some “science” as well for the “new Buddhists” to believe.
In a closing note, I would like to call Theory of evolution, theory of creationism, theory of natural selection, big bang are superstition……I have my arguments. “Buddhism” as a religion being practiced me many countries got a lot of superstition….let us mindfully tread the path.
The “thing” that can be superstitious (belief, practice, etc.) is not of itself superstitious, it does not have an inherent superstitious nature. Even Buddha can be a fetish; even Buddhism can be a superstition if a person acts on the causes making Buddha into a fetish and Buddhism into a superstition.
Me too I’m rambling but that is my thoughts expressed inelegantly.
It is sad to me when well intentioned yet uninformed Buddhists mix new age silliness with something as profound as the Buddhadharma. Buddhist tradition has mythically meaningful content, but Atlantis and the’Law of Attraction’ have no comparison the the transformative and freeing practice of the Dharma. I have a personal view that such prattering is the result of fear of the practice of Dharma where Dharma is freeing from self-attachment and really opening the heart to all with deep compassion as well as recognizing the wisdom of emptiness. Such fears are based on misconceptions in the first place. To really understand Dharma it is important to study while learning from your teacher. I have actually heard an American Buddhist nun talking worriedly about Nostradomus and the Mayan calender ending the world in 2012. When your view is formed from the teaching of a qualified teacher, personal study, and plenty of meditation, such nonsense doesn’t matter at all. But the difference can only be distinguished when the wisdom of the teachings and practice dawn in the mind of the practicioner.
It is sad to me when well intentioned yet uninformed Buddhists mix new age silliness with something as profound as the Buddhadharma. Buddhist tradition has mythically meaningful content, but Atlantis and the’Law of Attraction’ have no comparison the the transformative and freeing practice of the Dharma. I have a personal view that such prattering is the result of fear of the practice of Dharma where Dharma is freeing from self-attachment and really opening the heart to all with deep compassion as well as recognizing the wisdom of emptiness. Such fears are based on misconceptions in the first place. To really understand Dharma it is important to study while learning from your teacher. I have actually heard an American Buddhist nun talking worriedly about Nostradomus and the Mayan calender ending the world in 2012. When your view is formed from the teaching of a qualified teacher, personal study, and plenty of meditation, such nonsense doesn’t matter at all. But the difference can only be distinguished when the wisdom of the teachings and practice dawn in the mind of the practicioner.
Superstitions, beliefs; religion. Since all of everyone sre suffering beings, can we not simply leave the whole subject as concepts designed to alleviate suffering — whether we think they work, or not? Is a human being doing anything other than what a human being does, so outlandish or upsetting as to excite comment? humans will fancify, will hate, will condemn, will support, will love, will lead themselves to enlightenment; all in an effort to alleviate the same suffering in which we all exist.
This subject seems to be replete with expectations that simply do not equate with the Dharma. i cannot look at all of those mentioned as anything other than human beings doing things humanly — whether it meets my paradigm or not.
May all of us know happiness and peace. may all of us know the contentment born of understanding emptiness and the bliss of recognizing our perceptions in the surveying of others … perceptions.
Don — the central teaching of the dharma is that all suffering comes from self-clinging. Whatever encourages self-clinging ultimately leads to more suffering. Enlightenment can be defined as the realization there is no self to cling to. So within dharma, it is enormously important to determine whether a practice is fortifying self-clinging or dissolving it.
Nicely said Don. I come from a “superstitious, new age background” (having been Wiccan for over 10 years). I cannot wonder if I am one of those unenlightened but well meaning newagers – I know I am unenlightened for sure.
I am trying to follow the Dharma and learn. I feel that this is the best way to go. Is the path just as or more important than the journey?
The difference, to me, is that superstition is a kind of self-clinging.
Agree with you here, Barbara. When ego dissolves, enlightenment appears, and the path or techniques that support this can properly be called Buddha-dharma as a “religion” as opposed to a “superstition.”
Sasaki Roshi has said also that “when the ego dissolves, then true democracy appears” — interesting.
I think it was Michael Shermer in Scientific American who recently discussed the evolutionary backdrop of magical thinking. Human intelligence allows us to note patterns of events, causes and effects, and their risks. The reason we start to assume some magical power to the pink socks is because, as a species, it is safer to misinterpret as a pattern something that is not, rather than to dismiss a real pattern of danger or benefit (a tiger rustling the grass on the savanna, or planting certain seeds at certain times of the year).
So superstition is an evolutionarily beneficial delusion. Like so much of human behavior, we have to see through the delusion.
Someone suggested in a comment that trust in science is based on another set of beliefs. Of course! But they are beliefs based on so many verifiable patterns that you would be quite foolish to dismiss the basic scientific method as a form of religion.
Personally, the reason I’m a Buddhist is because meditation is the experiment I can run only upon myself. There is certainly a degree of faith in the practice, based on my interactions with those who are long-time, consistent practitioners. I see nothing supernatural or magical about it. Instead, I note that any suggestion of a quick and easy path to enlightenment (”A breakthrough in one day!”) is always delivered by a clearly deluded fool in robes.
Your mileage may vary.
Superstition and religion. Where you find one, you usually find the other. Even our path of Buddhism is not above reproach. For example, the practice of putting prayer flags on a hillside so that the wind might spread compassion and good will, or the idea that a new-born child might contain the essence of a deceased lama would probably strike most non-buddhists as superstitious.
I left a comment over on your other blog that belongs here instead, I think. I was just talking tonight to my dad about the Prosperity Gospel preachers on late night TV. You send them money, and God will reward you tenfold. That’s definitely superstition, and not religion.
In Japan, a friend told me that there are Buddhist sects there that also have a version of this, and that appeal largely to poor, working class folks. Probably the same audience as in the US.
Also there has long been a tension in Japanese Buddhism between the sects that emphasize ritual, charms, etc. and “purer”, stricter sects.
On a personal note, while visiting the big Buddha in Nara, I had to make a choice whether to buy a charm; on the one hand I expected that the charm that attracted me (a little packaged sutra, praying for the safety of my children) would probably actually make me feel (superstitiously) less anxious. On the other hand, it would conflict with my principles and in a very small way encourage charms. I didn’t get it, but hung out in front of the little shop for an absurd amount of time making the decision.
I am very excited to live long enough for me to hear intelligent views, and evolve over my time here on earth, praying, meditating, Being, living, letting-go, absorbing, and reflecting throughout my years until I become enlightened, or eventually not. But still I always feel deep truth that did not get spoon-fed to me as a child by certain religions that could have made me do rituals or blindly believe in shocking stories that really don’t explain reality. Buddhism makes more sence in that we are accountable at all times and not just when we feel like it as some religions have their followers believe. It works for some people however, it would have driven me crazy as some hard-core religious followers that are monsters and do things in “God’s” name or think it’s okay to harm someone else just as long as they say they’re sorry afterwards. Oddly human of us to live with conflicts and enjoy our lives because of the labours of other poorer people, selfishly, and vindictively, pretending that other people are evil based solely on a complete disregaurd for differences. Because compassion is what brought me to learn my beliefs and we are indeed human. So our minds do need calming. Charms are sort of a nice way to remind us what we are here for. Control our human extremes, whether anxious, pride, anger, saddness, hopelessness and certainly hope itself. We live on hope but learning and judgement of life itself teaches us not to. It is when we are truely free from ego. I am not there yet, so a superstition is not so strange for me to meet my reality into my core Self. I love that these comments got me a little closer to set myself back from leaning on a crutch such as “pink socks” but believing in these as a young person had me growing up feeling secure (the very essence of turning into a strong adult) I am thankful I am growing and not boxed in as other sheltered religions seem to corner the world off.
That’s not exactly true. For instance, I, as a Catholic, believe in the powers of witchcraft, in ghosts, in summoning spirits (via seance, Ouija, etc.), in the efficacy of good luck charms, in the power of transcendental meditation, etc. Catholics tend to believe that there is a lot of truth to the claims of New Agers, Wiccans, occultists, Eastern religions. We reject them not because they are nutty or false, but because they run counter to what is good (ie. relying on God rather than on our own power or the power of creatures like spirits and the earth and so forth).
agree with James ! Amen!
Hi Barbara,
I’m from Asia. People here who claim themselves to be buddhists always practise FengShui, changing names and wear crystal bracelet or do whatsoever to get good fortune, worship ancestors & idols who are iconic heroes of old etc..
I had been searching from internet about Buddhism to look for a short explanation about why Buddhism has such a high tolerance to integrate with these practices.
Does the teaching of Buddhism agree with these?
is it because Buddhism is a principle of life to be a good man and that’s why the teaching does not prohibit these practices till the biddhists has no ideas as there is no clear cut in the teaching?
thanks