Is Being Superstitious Regarded as Sinful?

[meltzerboy]

The thread on 11/11/11 brought to mind this question. I’m not necessarily referring to belief in psychic readings, horoscopes, and the like; but rather things like walking under ladders, breaking mirrors, black cats crossing your path, knocking wood, carrying amulets, and just believing in or wishing someone good luck. Let’s also set aside those who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). And if it is considered sinful, what kind of sin: venial (I would assume) or mortal?

 

[puzzleannie]

if they are just cultural habits you have picked up without thinking about it, no it is a sin. If you actually, truly intentionally ascribe supernatural powers to inanimate objects or animals, then you may have a problem with the first commandment.

 

[Barbkw]

CCC

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm

III. “YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME”

2110 The first commandment forbids honoring gods other than the one Lord who has revealed himself to his people.

It proscribes superstition and irreligion.

Superstition in some sense represents a perverse excess of religion; irreligion is the vice contrary by defect to the virtue of religion.

Superstition

2111 Superstition is the deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes.

It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary.

To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition.41

 

[Loboto-Me]

Doesn’t “Knock on wood” refer to the wooden cross of Jesus? In a roundabout way saying “to the grace of God” or something like that.

I’m just asking out of curiosity

 

[meltzerboy]

Doesn’t “Knock on wood” refer to the wooden cross of Jesus? In a roundabout way saying “to the grace of God” or something like that.

I’m just asking out of curiosity

One of the possible origins of “knock (on) wood” has to do with evil spirits. Apparently, knocking on wood renders these spirits inactive. Another possibility I found deals with good spirits, informing them you’re there so they can help you. Both are of Pagan origin since spirits were thought to inhabit trees. However, I believe the phrase does also refer to the wooden Cross of Jesus, as you state, in a positive sense. The British (and Irish?) equivalent is “touch wood,” related to a children’s game.