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„SILVA RERUM” - „CICER CUM CAULE”

Prejudices and superstitions - bygone and contemporary

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Prejudice “preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.” Superstition “excessively credulous belief in and reverence for supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, of a practice based on such belief” The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Clarendon Press – Oxford, 1998.

Both, the form and the “ideology” of p. and s. are changing in time. The

bygone ones recurred to the deformed aspects of religion or to the ancient tales.

The contemporary ones are looking for some rational explanation and often invoke

to some peculiar interpretation of the actual science.

The ancient tales, stories on gnomes, ghosts, sorceress, enchanted

treasures, dragons etc., are existing “since ever”. Conviction of reality of that

world, of the existence of the friendly, malicious or even hostile powers which, by

some magic spells and rituals, may be used to own advantage or to harm

adversaries, hasbeen transforming these tales to superstitions. Results were

sometimes tragic. The examples of that are the absurd and sinister “ducking tests”

applied to the women accused on the witchcraft (not drawn – a witch, drowned –

innocent!). and also numerous “witches” which perished cruelly at the stakes.

Old time superstitions were assuming existence of some supernatural

powers. In some ways they recall to the religious creeds. The performed magic

rituals and applied spells were the deformed replicas of the religious rites and

prayers.

The beginning of the contemporary superstitions reach the XIXth century. I

am trying to sort them out, taking into account their nature. The dominating group

represent the “scientific” ones which intend to explain “rationally” some

incomprehensible phenomena (sometimes even non existing) .

The science rests upon observations and experiments. Some hypothesis are

formulated which try to explain , or at least to connect logically, the observed

facts. Each hypothesis “is true” up to the moment when a better one is

formulated, or some new facts, contradict it. It is characteristic for the science

that it tries continuously to verify the existing hypothesis. However also “quasi

scientific” attitudes exist. Some misty hypothesis are then formulated and



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presented as axioms ( no attempts are made to verify them). - Sometimes it is

difficult to delimit the line dividing these attitudes.

Physical superstitions (looking for legitimation in the laws of physics) often

recall to the different types of “radiation” which may influence both the living

beings and the inanimate matter. The origins of these radiations are usually

attributed to the underground water flaws (called “water veins”). Such

underground water streams may exist in the karts regions. In the loose soils, for

instance sands, solely some seeping flow, not precisely localized, may be present.

There are not any convincing experimental proves indicating on the existence of

“radiation” which could be attributed to the presence of such “water veins” .

Adherents of the “water veins radiation” hypothesis advise to pay attention

to that factor in the planning of the new houses or even in the localization of beds

in the bedroom.. To detect these “veins” the dowsing rod is usually applied.

Opinions are also expressed that behavior of animals should be watched (“the cats

never rest in the places situated over v.w.”).

Sometimes opinions are expressed that such “radiations” may influence

unanimated world as well.

From time to time some journals inform that in particular places cars, with

switched off engines, move spontaneously upwards the road.

Car accidents have happened frequently at the certain street bend in

Cracow. The so called “radiestetes” expressed opinion that these accidents were

caused by the existing in that region “unfavorable geopatetic disturbances” (?!).

The city council decided to buy, for a substantial amount of money, the “the

radiation neutralizers, their construction remaining secret” and to bury them near

to that fatal bend. (February 1999). I have suggested then an alternative method –

to strew a powder (its composition I shall of course keep secret). That method

would be obviously equally inefficient but less expensive.

The Egyptian pyramids have fascinated people since ages. Often some magic

powers are attributed even to their shape. - At the conference of the Inventors

Society (tv January 2001) a model taking the shape of the pyramid building has

been presented. The author of that project explained that its main advantage is

that “it protects against the noxious influence of the water veins”. - Another

examples of that faith in the magic power of the pyramids are ,presented from



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time to time by the press and tv, information that blunt razor blades , kept in the

pyramid shaped box, sharpen spontaneously or that fruits, potatoes kept in the

pyramid shaped magazines do not decay etc.

The list of such “scientific superstitions” may be extended at will - the balls

made of a transparent material “which dissipate the negative energy”,

therapeutical effects “of the sounds emitted by the Tibetan bowls (iridology)” etc.

etc.

A dominating group, within the “rational “ prejudices and superstitions

represent the magic medicine . Again some examples. - So called bio-

energotherapeuts are “healing” their patients just by touching them. The expected

cure is attributed to the action of some unspecified bio-currents (fluids).

Does the acupuncture really heal or is its, often stated, efficacy, the result

of the patients auto suggestion? What would be mechanism of its action?

There are not any convincing premises that the observation of the inside of

the eye, where as some people believe all diseases (even a broken leg) are

registered, may be applied help to present a diagnose

Totally irrational diagnose method is founded on the observation of a

pendulum behavior which approached to the diagnosed person body should move in

different ways dependently on the kind of existing there disease.

Sometimes the rational kernel may be on purpose wrapped up in a magic

coat. For instance in the primitive communities the idea of serving a bullion to a

weak recovering person may be perceived as extravagance. But the bullion

prepared on the black hen, killed at midnight, would be probably accepted as

some kind of a magic medicine.

A separate group represent the numerous obvious charlatans. A typical

example was a healer, popular a few tens year ago, “irradiating” his patients using

a petrol lamp equipped with some color glass “filters” In the same category a very

popular for several months “therapy” relying just upon watching the healer

performing on tv screen (Kaszpirowski) or a surgery (removal of some fragments of

the interior organs) short of cutting the surrounding tissue (even of the skin), can

be included

Another domain of the “magical medicine” are healing powers attributed to

some certain places and objects. A typical example represents the legend on the



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existence of “czakram” - the stone “saturated” by the supernatural power and

emanating it - being present at the Wawel castle. Numerous people, who believe in

its existence and its healing powers, are coming there to touch the wall separating

them from that stone. Attempts to protect the wall against soiling it are angrily

condemned “It deprives us from the exploitation of the czakram healing power!”.

In the same category are also the amulets – the objects “protecting” the

owner against diseases and all kind of disasters - very popular round the world and

over centuries.

Different medicines of obscure origin and of the undefined composition may

be placed somewhere between the serious pharmacy and the hoax. Usually they

make a flashy and short living careers , afterwards disappear and are quickly

forgotten. The list is long - the extracts from tinder or from peat recommended as

anti cancer drugs; - imported, somewhere from the Far East, the “tiger ointment”,

the extract of the zhen-shen roots, and the “viper tincture” recommended for

numerous diseases; - “banfi hajfes” widely advertised, a few years ago, Hungarian

liquid promoting the hair growth etc. etc. - One of the American journals , at the

end of the XIXth century, was advertising some universal medicine curing diseases

of heart, stomach, kidneys, liver and even advised in the cure of broken limbs. The

text of that advertisement informed also “one spoon for humans, four for horses”.

Many people state that such therapies have helped them to recover.

Therefore often opinions are formulated that, in spite of the existing doubts, the

unconventional method of therapy should be accepted. - It should be however

taken into consideration that a considerable share in these positive results has the

patients attitude to the applied method (auto suggestion). In effect the “attained

healing results” are, almost as a rule, short living. It happens often that somebody

who, due to the temporary amelioration of his feeling, believes to be healed , gives

up to that time applied conventional therapy. Usually it leads to some irreversible

damages.

Prejudices and superstitions referring to the existence of some extra

terrestrial civilizations

In that category the Unidentified Flying Objects bear the palm. Many people

believe in the existence of these, coming somewhere from the cosmos, vehicles.



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There are numerous relations, presented in the press or on tv, of the people who

have seen these vehicles, were even invited to board them and were speaking with

their crews (usually small, as a rule green, creatures of the high intelligence

quotient) .

Periodically comes back the problem of some mysterious circles appearing in

the middle of the grain fields. Several years ago that phenomenon has been widely

discussed in the British press. Several hypothesis have been formulated – traces left

by the landing UFO’s , effects of the activity of the radiation sources existing

somewhere underground? Scientists representing several weighty research centers

were trying to discover existence of the hypothetical anomalies in the magnetic or

electric fields. - At last two older gentlemen have admitted that they were authors

of that practical joke. Using stilts they were entering into the middle of the fields

and there, circulating on feet, they trampled the “mysterious” circles. Afterwards,

again using stilts, they were leaving the scene of their activity The mystery has

been solved. The joke has been generally appreciated and the story has been

forgotten for several years. - Recently the Discovery tv again animates that story

presenting program “mysterious circles in the grain fields”. It is obvious that tv,

interested in attraction of the possibly biggest number of viewers, does not intend

to give up such an attractive “mystery “story.

Recently the most up to date activity is the cloning of the human beings. S.

Lem, the science fiction writer and philosopher, comments this - :”The racing

driver Rael met once some green, child size, cosmites who informed him, in

French, that their compatriots, 25 thousands year ago, have created (formed,

synthesized?) the human race in their laboratories. The raelians (the created by

Rael sect) claim that using that method they have recently cloned a child.”. Lem

concludes, “ It does not exist such an absurd which could not be accepted by some

people as truth”. - Personally I wonder who was the donor of the cells, applied in

cloning the human race 25 thousand years ago, when no humans had existed before

that time?

Irrational prejudices and superstitions which do not look for any legitimation

In that category are augurs formulated, by Etruscans and Romans, on the

basis of the birds flights observation, of the examination of the sacrificially killed



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animals intestines etc. Today encounter of a chimney sweeper is seen as a good

omen and that of a black cat as a bad one (in some regions black cat is accepted as

a good omen). A spider seen in the morning is perceived as a bad omen, but in the

evening as a good one. In the same category of the irrational p&s are beliefs on the

lucky or unlucky week days, in the magic of numbers (unlucky 13!), conviction that

some people may foretell the future etc.etc. - Often such p&s initially seen as

some kind of joke, are more and more seriously treated. Gradually they may gain a

significant influence on moods and decisions of some persons who, in extreme case,

became their slaves.

Ghosts and spirits

The peak period of interests in these problems falls on the turn of the

XIX/XXth centuries. Numerous, less or more serious, spiritistualistic circles,

theosophical associations but also The Royal Society of the Metaphysical Research,

have been then created. Seances were organized in presence of some mediums

(persons with “special spiritual powers”) or spiritistualistic sessions using the

“vibrating tables”. Representatives of the wide spectrum of the society were

participitating in these activities, - from some exalted older ladies to the

prominent scientists (for example Cockrooft, Peter and Mary Curie) who were

trying to investigate these phenomena.

The spiritistualistic sessions were, at that times, often a standard point of

social gatherings and parties. Usually spirits of the relatives or of some significant

historical personalities, like Alexander the Great or Napoleon, were evoked. As a

rule these spirits were transmitting some exalted trivialities. – Many media who

were catched cheating apologized explaining that they were trying to conceal the

loss of the “once really possessed power”. - The fashion of the spiritistualistic

sessions has faded, today it is a margin.

Ghosts are present as a “standard equipment” of all respectable castles,

palaces and manors. They are doing there penance for the committed crimes or are

spirits of some persons cruelly killed there , (the question rises - are such

apparitions really effects of crimes then what should be observed at such places as

the concentration camps of all types where millions of people have been

murdered?).



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Remarkably dense population of ghosts is registered in Great Britain where

even the almanac “Ghosts who is who” has been edited.

The discussed p&s may be ranked in two categories. To the first belong those

which are evidently univocally baseless unfounded - a black cat or the” feral days”,

evident frauds like “healing petrol lamp irradiation”, talks with the “green

cosmmits” on the board of their ships, belief in the “magic power” of the pyramid

shaped constructions etc. etc.

To the second category belong these which may have a rational kernel, like

dowsing, acupuncture, some magic medicines etc. Experiments should be carried

out to try to answer that question and eventually to present some reliable

explanation of these phenomena.

Alas s&p are usually presented as the “creed “ to believe. Any expressed

doubts are treated as a manifestation of conservatism, routine thinking,

confinement and often also …. as a sign of the ill intents.

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