CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION:

A. Background of the Study

       Superstition is an irrational belief or practice resulting from ignorance or fear of the unknown. It characterized by obsessive reverence for omens, charms, etc.  The validity of superstitions is based on belief in the power of magic and witchcraft and in such invisible forces as spirits and demons. A common superstition in the middle ages was that the devil could enter a person during that unguarded moment when that person was sneezing; this could be avoided if anyone present immediately appealed to the name of God. The tradition of saying "God bless you" when someone sneezes still remains today. Superstition is a notion, act or ritual that derives from such belief.(http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Superstitious+belief)

        Some superstition provides as a miracle, revelation, magic or what we called supernatural. It is commonly says that it can bring real-luck or bad-luck. It can also foretell future events by specific unrelated prior events. According to the psychologist Lysann Damisch of the University of Cologne, is that superstitious thought, or “magical thinking,” even as it misrepresents reality, has its advantages. It offers psychological benefits that logic and science can’t always provide: namely, a sense of control and a sense of meaning. He said that We often rely on such rituals when we are anxious or want to perform well, and though they may not directly have their intended magical effects.

The source of different superstition is based on what evolve in this process. It can be cultural based that came from others and pass to one another. The sources which might have been a great source for such superstitions are leaders or governments, elders, cultures, imaginative stories, scholars and myths. Some of the common superstitions are the fear of Friday the 13th. Many people feel that it's a day of bad luck. Also consist of things like, the 7 years bad luck that you receive if you break a mirror, or walking beneath a ladder, will also bring you bad luck. But superstition can also bring you real luck and one of the popular is, picking up a penny that is heads up, will bring you good luck.

In the Philippines there are many superstitions. It quite irrational and are something beyond the ground of Science. It creates beliefs that misfortune will always happen if it will not be followed. It also finds it very conflicting that the largest Christian country in Asia has a lot of beliefs that contradicts to the philosophy of the religion. Some of the superstition in the Philippines are like, When someone sleeps with wet hair, that person may go blind or go crazy; If a person sits on a book, that person will become stupid or dumb; People with large ears have long life. These are some common superstition in our country.

In spite of difficulties, many people still believe in superstition, not only in the people in the Philippines but also in some other country. One of that is the Western country, their culture also believes in superstition that deemed irrational. In the cultures of Greeks and Romans they also believed that natural occurrences were a result of actions of the gods. In a simple way, these superstitious beliefs are really affecting the daily lives of the people. Also it is really connected to the religion. Even people who claim they have no superstitions they are likely to do a few things they cannot explain.  Being superstitious helps those to hide their mistakes by blaming luck, which according to them no one can control except God. A feeling of lack of control over their life, many people desire to impose order and structure on the world.

Indeed of dealing with the definition and importance of the superstition as well as the examples, this paper focus on the effects of superstition on the daily lives of Filipino.

B. Statement of the Problem

          This study aims to answer this question:

1.) What effects those superstition have on the daily lives of the Filipino?

C. Significance of the Study

College students. This research can help college student it simply because me as a college students right know. I have many things that I’ve learned. In some point college students wants to believe in this superstition.

Filipinos.  This research paper would be able to help human beings because it is one of the beliefs that can bring good luck for them. But somehow it can also bring bad lucks; it depends on what they believe.

Sports men or people who are very sporty. It is very helpful to the person who is very sporty especially when that person believes in real luck. He or she can help her or his team to win because of this superstition. And he or she takes this superstition as opportunities to gain with flying colour.

Fortune-tellers. This is one who will benefit my research paper because when people are more closely to believe to superstition, we can say that people can  more likely to go to a fortune-teller so that they will know what will happen for them in the future, and because of superstition they will believe to the fortune-teller.

D. Scope and Limitation

    This study focuses on the effects of superstition on the daily lives of the Filipino. So all of the articles that are related to the effects of superstition will be all considered.

      This study will no longer to discuss the cause of superstition, the definition, the importance, as well as the example but rather it focuses in the effects in the daily lives of the Filipino. This study also give emphasize only to our country Philippines. In simple way, all the superstition is all about to the Filipinos.

E. Materials and Methods

     This research employs a descriptive method since the researchers aim to describe and to discuss the effects of the superstition on the daily lives of Filipinos. This method as define as “the daughter of Ignorance and Fear. And based on it, it is the power of magic and witchcraft. Bearing this in mind, the descriptive method deemed appropriate for the study.

          Information gathered from different references such as books, journals and articles that are related to the effects of superstition. In addition some of the articles are from online sources to find strength information of this study.

F. Definition of terms

Superstition. An irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstition)

Ignorance.  The state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignorance)

Witchcraft. Communication with the devil or with a familiar, the use of sorcery or magic and an irresistible influence or fascination. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witchcraft)

Miracle. An extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miracle)

Philosophy. All learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/philosophy)

Psychological. Directed toward the will or toward the mind specifically in its co native function. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychological)