su.per.sti.tion n [ME supersticion, fr. MF, fr. L superstition-, superstitio, fr. superstit-, superstes standing over (as witness or survivor), fr. super- + stare to stand--more at stand] (13c)
1 a: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b: an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2: a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
¹faith n, pl faiths [ME feith, fr. OF feid, foi, fr. L fides; akin to L fidere to trust--more at bide] (13c) 1 a: allegiance to duty or a person: loyalty b (1): fidelity to one's promises (2): sincerity of intentions 2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust 3: something that is believed esp. with strong conviction; esp: a system of religious beliefs syn see belief -- in faith : without doubt or question: verily ²faith vt (15c) archaic: believe, trust
faith healing n (1885): a method of treating diseases by prayer and exercise of faith in God -- faith healer n
good faith n (1893): honesty or lawfulness of purpose
article of faith (15c): a basic belief
Merriam-Webster
Can you see the huge distinction here? Basically faith means believing in things that you have no evidence to believe in while superstition means believing in things you have no evidence to believe in.
It is one of those irregular verbs:
“It's one of those irregular verbs, isn't it?
I have an independent mind, you are eccentric, he is round the twist”Men find me irresistible.
You're developing a reputation.
She's a slut.I married a man who could support our children.
You only want him for his money.
She's nothing better than a whore.My face is beginning to show character
You're starting to show your age
She's a poor raddled old hagI am tactful
You are economical with the truth
He is a bare-faced liarI enjoy my own company
You're not very sociable
He's a misanthropic old hermitI like to give my children plenty of space to make their own decisions
You are very patient with your offspring
Her kids are hooligans
“That's another of those irregular verbs, isn't it? I give confidential briefings, you leak, he is being prosecuted under section 2a of the Official Secrets Act.”
Get the idea? I have the true faith, you have your faith, they are bloody superstitious heathen.
Faith and superstition are just the same thing viewed from different angles. Once you have grasped this concept it becomes possible to make some startling thoughts. Simply replace the word faith with the word superstition and see how comfortable you feel with the resulting phrases:
Superstition based initiative
Superstition healing
Superstition communities
An act of superstition
A leap of superstition
I have superstition in him
Superstition in the Community
Superstition, hope and charity
Multi-Superstition Network
New Deal for Communities Superstition Pilots Project
The Tapestry of Life and Superstition Festival
A multi-superstition chaplaincy service
Ethnic Minority and Superstition groups
The White House Office and the Centers for the Superstition-Based and Community Initiative
Task Force for Superstition-based & Community Initiatives
Forward in Superstition International
Blind superstition
Superstition Equality Scheme
The tsunami caused them to question their superstition
superstition-based aid agencies
Superstition First (A Catholic schools website - itself a frightening concept!)
The Inter Superstition Network
Inter-Superstition Dialogue
The Bahà’ì Superstition
The Christian Superstition
The Islamic Superstition
Superstition Makes Communities Work
Defender of the Superstition Keeping the superstition Defender of Superstition |
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Have superstition my friend
All in good superstition
Articles of Superstition
Superstition can move mountains
and last but not least