Draft:Superstitions in Christian societies

According to David Bailey, it was with Pliny's usage of the word Magic that came close to superstition. The charge of being superstitious was first leveled by Roman authorities on their Christian subjects. In turn early Christian writers pronounced all Roman and Pagan cults to be superstitious, and worshiping false Gods, fallen angels and demons. With Christian usage, almost all forms of magic became forms of superstition.
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One view, first propounded by Enlightenment philosophers, asserts that the Church's doctrines are entirely superstitious and have hindered the progress of civilization. Communist states have made similar arguments in their education in order to inculcate a negative view of Catholicism (and religion in general) in their citizens. The most famous incidents cited by such critics are the Church's condemnations of the teachings of Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler.

Because of the focus on reason over superstition, the Enlightenment cultivated the arts. Emphasis on learning, art and music became more widespread, especially with the growing middle class. Areas of study such as literature, philosophy, science, and the fine arts increasingly explored subject matter to which the general public, in addition to the previously more segregated professionals and patrons, could relate.

László Sándor Chardonnens classifies Prophecy under topic of divination; examples being  the prophets of the Old Testament, biblical typological allegory, the fifteen signs before Judgement Day, and the many prophecies expressed by saints.; Chardonnens further points out that since many aspects of religious experience are tied up with prophecy, church condones the same. Chardonnens says, one could differentiate between those kinds of prophecy which are (1) inspired by God or Satan and their minions; (2) “gecyndelic”; and (3) “wiglung” examples —lacking divine or infernal inspiration and not “gecyndelic” either. But practically, however, most, if not all, words relating to prophecy ought to be interpreted as inspired.

UK
In the UK there is a superstitious belief in the "Seven Whistlers" which are seven mysterious birds or spirits who call out to foretell death or a great calamity. In the 19th century, large groups of coal miners were known to have refused to enter the mines for one day after hearing this spectral whistling. The Seven Whistlers have been mentioned in literature such as The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, as bearing an omen of death. William Wordsworth included fear of the Seven Whistlers in his poem, "Though Narrow Be That Old Man's Cares". The superstition has been reported in the Midlands of England but also in Lancashire, Essex, Kent, and even in other places such as North Wales and Portugal.

2012 blasphemy case
In March 2012, Sanal Edamaruku investigated a report that a crucifix at Our Lady of Velankanni church in Mumbai was dripping water from the feet. This incident, though not claimed by the Catholic Church as a miracle, was believed by locals to be one. Research by Edamaruku indicated that the dripping was caused by capillary action from a clogged drain..

Edamaruku mocked the Catholic Church, calling it "anti-science", and made fun of the Pope, during his appearance on a television show held to discuss the investigation. A Catholic lawyer asked Edamaruku to apologise whilst on television, but he did not, so in April 2012, the Catholic Secular Forum in Mumbai filed a complaint under Section 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code in several police stations around the city.

The All India Catholic Union said the law was being applied incorrectly. Colin Gonsalves, the founder of the India Center for Human Rights and Law, stated his opinion that no criminal offence had been committed. There were further complaints that the law was being misused to suppress free speech. Others spoke in his defense publicly, such as Vishal Dadlani, and James Randi. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay issued statements that called for Edamaruku to apologise and for the prosecution to drop the charges, although the Catholic Church is not associated with the criminal charges.

On 31 July 2012 Edamaruku moved to Finland. When fellow campaigner Narendra Dabholkar was murdered in 2013, Edamaruku felt returning could put his life in peril. Edamaruku said, "I would do it again. Because any miracle which has enormous clout at one moment, is simply gone once explained. It's like a bubble. You prick it and it is finished."

Quotes

 * Verbal and plenary Inspiration compels us to accept as true: 1st. The account of the six days creations, with all their rude errors and singular misconceptions 2nd. The tree of knowledge, the apple and the fall. 3rd. Two statement's as Noah's ark, and the animals that entered it, utterly contradictory and both incredible. 4th The ingenious legend of the tower of Babel. 5th The literal version of the plagues of Egypt 6th. the crowded miracles of the Exodus 7th. The passage of the Red Sea, the sojurn in the desert and the establishment of canaan ... Westminister Review XLVI, April 1863 p. 510
 * In the matter of doctrine three articles of faith have more than any other prevented the cordial and grateful reception of  ecclesiastical Christianity by the most pure and honest minds 1. Vicarious punishment 2. Salvation by faith 3. Eternal damnation ...and that no Christian or sensible man would teach them, were it not held that every text of Scripture is authentic, authoritative, indisputably true, and in some sense or other, inspired and divine"    ...Westminister Review XLVI, April 1863 p. 510
 * "..It must never be forgotten that, the most monstrous of Christian superstitions, the most grotesque of  Christian  miracles, and the most inhuman of Christian dogmas, find their prototype in the books of the Old and the New Testaments. Kings and Popes, witch finders and miracle mongers, may all plead their cause in words taken from that medley of documents, which, with much that is true, pathetic, and sublime, contains not a little that is false, inhuman, or immoral.." ...Westminister Review October 1865    p. 350
 * "..It must never be forgotten that, the most monstrous of Christian superstitions, the most grotesque of  Christian  miracles, and the most inhuman of Christian dogmas, find their prototype in the books of the Old and the New Testaments. Kings and Popes, witch finders and miracle mongers, may all plead their cause in words taken from that medley of documents, which, with much that is true, pathetic, and sublime, contains not a little that is false, inhuman, or immoral.." ...Westminister Review October 1865    p. 350

Good Friday superstitions
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Encyclopædia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World: Volume III. United States, University Press of the Pacific, 2003. Page 1527

prosperity gospel
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In Popular culture

 * https://www.scottishfield.co.uk/culture/books/when-superstition-was-at-its-peak-in-gripping-read/