Q: What is the difference between superstition and religion? Isn't religion just another form of superstition? A: Those of us who value religion would certainly not think so. What difference has superstition made in our world? Has superstition ever changed a life, humbled the proud, softened a heart, inspired a hymn? Has belief in superstition ever led a single person to take one step that has led to a positive life change? Does superstition have roots that go deep, an infinite breadth, a heart and soul? It seems to me that you are groping here, attempting to discard an entire belief system by reducing something which is profoundly complex into a simplistic category. Superstition pivots on hunches, fear, a trust in chance, a reliance on magic. Religion pivots on faith, love, a trust in Scripture, a reliance on Divine Power. To compare the two would be to suggest that Christians and Jews the world over have been involved in mere hokum for centuries. The fact that you pose the question causes me to wonder whether you are not looking for a deeper reason to give religion a second chance in your life. The good news is that Scripture is filled with symbols which give hope to those who are tentative in their relationship to faith. A spark of belief the size of a mustard seed can explode into incredible growth. A bruised reed He will not break; a smoking flax He will not quench. One of the most encouraging stories in Scripture is that of a heart-sick father, his son tormented by a spirit which "seizes him" and "throws him down," causing him to "foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth and become rigid." (Mark 9). Worn down by years of barely rescuing his son from being "thrown both into the fire and the water," the desperate man approaches Jesus and throws out his last-ditch effort. "But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." He is met with a response that confronts the essence of his weak and cautious faith. "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." What then? This man is not grounded in faith, a staunch religious leader or even, apparently, a believer. It is quite possible that he views religion and superstition on a similar plane. He is clearly grasping at anything that holds out the possibility of hope. Previously, he had tried approaching the disciples, with no success. Who knows whether he had forayed into other dead-end alleys through his years of desperation—magic, potions, soothsayers? His response to Jesus is forthright and honest. Through his tears, he cries out, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." That paradoxical phrase catches the depths of feeling that many of us experience at various times in our lives. When confronted with the unsolvable, we throw misgivings to the wind and reach out a frantic, pleading hand to some Power greater than ourselves. Underneath, we are riddled by questions, doubts, fears. But for the moment, on some level, we believe. And that is enough. "Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose." (Mark 9:26-27). Are superstition and religion the same thing? Definitely not. Can a person move from mere superstition to a profoundly meaningful religious experience? Definitely. If a man filled with unbelief can act on a whim of faith, hurl out an anxious request, and realize the dream of a lifetime, there is hope for all of us who dare to believe despite our unbelief. Superstition has been defined as "a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary."1 Faith, on the other hand, is described as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). An unsubstantiated notion vs. evidence and substance. Two totally different perspectives leading to two totally different life choices. Which path will you take? 1 Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary Sandra Doran, Ed.D., is an associate superintendent of education for the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. She posts her monthly columns on her web site. Read them on-line at www.tagnet.org/powerlines.

Sandra Finley Doran, Ed.D. 2028 Bluff Oak St. Apopka, FL 32712-3945 (407) 889-5524 email powerlines@juno.com

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