The Curse of Fortune; Responding to Luck Objections in an Uncooperative World
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O-Iwa's Curse
O-Iwa’s Curse Apparitions and their After-Effects in the Yotsuya kaidan Saitō Takashi 齋藤 喬 Nanzan Institute for Religion & Culture In traditional Japanese theater, ghosts appear in the shadowlands between the visible and the invisible. They often try to approach those who harmed or abused them in life to seek revenge with the aid of supernatural powers. In such scenes, the dead are visible as a sign of impending doom only to those who are the target of their revenge. An examination of the Yotsuya kaidan, one of the most famous ghost stories in all of Japanese literature, is a case in point. The story is set in the Edo period, where the protagonist, O-Iwa, is reputed to have put a curse on those around her with catastrophic results. Her legend spread with such effect that she was later immortalized in a Shinto shrine bearing her name. In a word, so powerful and awe-inspiring was her curse that she not only came to be venerated as a Shinto deity but was even memorialized in a Buddhist temple. There is no doubt that a real historical person lay behind the story, but the details of her life have long since been swallowed up in the mists of literary and artistic imagination. In this article, I will focus on the rakugo (oral performance) version of the tale (translated into English by James S. de Benneville in 1917) and attempt to lay out the logic of O-Iwa’s apparitions from the viewpoint of the narrative. ho is O-Iwa? This is the name of the lady of Tamiya house, which appeared in the official documents of Tokugawa Shogunate. -
Syphilis and Theories of Contagion Curtis V
Syphilis and Theories of Contagion Curtis V. Smith, Doctoral Candidate Professor of Biological Sciences Kansas City Kansas Community College Abstract Syphilis provides a useful lens for peering into the history of early modern European medicine. Scholarly arguments about how diseases were transmitted long preceded certain scientific information about the etiology or cause of disease in the late 19th century. Compared to the acute and widely infectious nature of bubonic plague, which ravaged Europe in the mid-15th century, syphilis was characterized by the prolonged chronic suffering of many beginning in the early 16th century. This study reveals the historical anachronisms and the discontinuity of medical science focusing primarily on the role of Girolamo Fracastoro (1478-1553) and others who influenced contagion theory. Examination of contagion theory sheds light on perceptions about disease transmission and provides useful distinctions about descriptive symptoms and pathology. I. Introduction Treponema pallidum is a long and tightly coiled bacteria discovered to be the cause of syphilis by Schaudinn and Hoffman on March 3, 1905. The theory of contagion, or how the disease was transmitted, was vigorously debated in Europe as early as the sixteenth century. Scholarly arguments about how diseases were transmitted long preceded scientific information about the etiology or cause of disease. The intense debate about syphilis was the result of a fearsome epidemic in Europe that raged from 1495-1540. Compared to the Black Death, which had a short and sudden acute impact on large numbers of people one hundred and fifty years earlier, syphilis was characterized by the prolonged chronic suffering of many. -
Conflict Between Science and Superstition in Medical and Dental
Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 25 January 2021 doi:10.20944/preprints202101.0502.v1 Conflict between science and superstition in medical and dental practices Donat Uwayezu (1), Eustache Ntigura (1), Agnes Gatarayiha (1), Sarah Erem (2), Anwarul A. Majumder (3), Mainul Haque (4) & Mohammed S. Razzaque (1, 2, 5) 1Department of Preventive & Community Dentistry, University of Rwanda School of Dentistry, Kigali, Rwanda 2Department of Pathology, Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Dutch Caribbean 3Medical Education, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies, Barbados 4Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defense Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defense University of Malaysia), Kem Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 5Department of Pathology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, USA Address of correspondence: Mohammed S. Razzaque, MBBS, PhD, Department of Pathology, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, 1858 West Grandview Boulevard, Room: B2-306, Erie, PA 16509, USA. E-mails: [email protected] 1 | P a g e © 2021 by the author(s). Distributed under a Creative Commons CC BY license. Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 25 January 2021 doi:10.20944/preprints202101.0502.v1 Abstract Superstition is a belief that is not based on scientific knowledge. Traditional healers usually use superstition in their practices to manage human health problems and diseases; such practices create a conflict with the medical profession and its evidence- based practices. Medical professionals confirm that this kind of practice is not safe to human health as it is done by untrained people (e.g., tradition healers) utilizing unsterilized instruments within unhygienic environments. -
A Qualitative Analysis of Superstitious Behavior and Performance: How It Starts, Why It Works, and How It Works
Western Washington University Western CEDAR WWU Graduate School Collection WWU Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarship Spring 2015 A Qualitative Analysis of Superstitious Behavior and Performance: How it Starts, Why it Works, and How it Works Alexandra A. Farley Western Washington University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet Part of the Health and Physical Education Commons Recommended Citation Farley, Alexandra A., "A Qualitative Analysis of Superstitious Behavior and Performance: How it Starts, Why it Works, and How it Works" (2015). WWU Graduate School Collection. 408. https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwuet/408 This Masters Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the WWU Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarship at Western CEDAR. It has been accepted for inclusion in WWU Graduate School Collection by an authorized administrator of Western CEDAR. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Qualitative Analysis of Superstitious Behavior and Performance: How it starts, why it works, and how it works By Alexandra Farley Accepted in Partial Completion of the Requirements for the Degree Masters of Science Kathleen L. Kitto, Dean of Graduate School Advisor Committee ___________________________ Chair, Dr. Linda Keeler ___________________________ Dr. Michelle Mielke ___________________________ Dr. Keith Russell Master’s Thesis In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master’s degree at Western Washington University, I grant to Western Washington University the non-exclusive royalty-free right to archive, reproduce, distribute, and display the thesis in any and all forms, including electronic format, via any digital library mechanisms maintained by WWU. -
Faces of Mongolian Fear: Demonological Beliefs, Narratives and Protective Measures in Contemporary Folk Religion*
Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics 14 (1): 49–64 DOI: 10.2478/jef-2020-0004 FACES OF MONGOLIAN FEAR: DEMONOLOGICAL BELIEFS, NARRATIVES AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN CONTEMPORARY FOLK RELIGION* ALEVTINA SOLOVYEVA Junior Research Fellow Department for Estonian and Comparative Folklore University of Tartu Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu, Estonia Leading Research Fellow Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies National Research University Higher School of Economics Myasnitskaja 20, 101000 Moscow, Russia e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT This article looks at the perceptions of fear and ‘the frightening’ in contemporary Mongolian demonology. In the article, I discuss beliefs concerning both human and supernatural – what is supposed to be frightening for humans and what is supposed to be frightening for spirits, ghosts and demons. In daily interaction with the supernatural this mutual ‘fright’ can be regarded as an important part of communication. In this article, I discuss what is believed to be the most frightful for humans and for supernatural agents, what kinds of image this fear relates to and what the roots of these beliefs are, as well as the popular ways to confront and defend against ‘frightening’ in Mongolian folklore. My research is based on fieldwork materials collected during annual expedi- tions in different parts of Mongolia (2006–2017) and Mongolian published sources such as Mongolian newspapers and journals, special editions of stories about encounters with the supernatural. KEYWORDS: Mongolian folklore • narratives • rites • fears • socialist past and contemporary period. * This article is a continuation of my paper, presented at the Anthropology of Fright: Per- spectives from Asia international conference (Aarhus University, May 18–19, 2017), inspired and developed with the support of event organisers Stefano Beggiora (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy), Lidia Guzy (University College Cork, Ireland), Uwe Skoda (Aarhus University, Denmark). -
Sayyids and Shiʽi Islam in Pakistan
Legalised Pedigrees: Sayyids and Shiʽi Islam in Pakistan SIMON WOLFGANG FUCHS Abstract This article draws on a wide range of Shiʽi periodicals and monographs from the s until the pre- sent day to investigate debates on the status of Sayyids in Pakistan. I argue that the discussion by reform- ist and traditionalist Shiʽi scholars (ʽulama) and popular preachers has remained remarkably stable over this time period. Both ‘camps’ have avoided talking about any theological or miracle-working role of the Prophet’s kin. This phenomenon is remarkable, given the fact that Sayyids share their pedigree with the Shiʽi Imams, who are credited with superhuman qualities. Instead, Shiʽi reformists and traditionalists have discussed Sayyids predominantly as a specific legal category. They are merely entitled to a distinct treatment as far as their claims to charity, patterns of marriage, and deference in daily life is concerned. I hold that this reductionist and largely legalising reading of Sayyids has to do with the intense competition over religious authority in post-Partition Pakistan. For both traditionalist and reformist Shiʽi authors, ʽulama, and preachers, there was no room to acknowledge Sayyids as potential further competitors in their efforts to convince the Shiʽi public about the proper ‘orthodoxy’ of their specific views. Keywords: status of Sayyids; religious authority in post-Partition Pakistan; ahl al-bait; Shiʻi Islam Bashir Husain Najafi is an oddity. Today’s most prominent Pakistani Shiʽi scholar is counted among Najaf’s four leading Grand Ayatollahs.1 Yet, when he left Pakistan for Iraq in in order to pursue higher religious education, the deck was heavily stacked against him. -
Indian Superstitions & Omens
INDIAN SUPERSTITIONS & OMENS Although superstitions are passed down from generation to generation, I started a new one. I told my family that bay leaves are lucky. As soon as I said that, my sons stopped complaining about finding one in their soup. Knocking on wood is meant to be good luck because benevolent spirits were thought to live in trees and thus knocking on anything made of wood is meant to protect you from misfortune. Crossing your fingers is meant to be good luck because you make the sign of the cross and thus prevent evil spirits from harming you. However, I have no idea why a robin flying into your house is meant to be lucky - unless it's an excuse for poor housekeeping. In ancient Egypt the goddess Bast was in the form of a female, black cat. When the Christian priests wanted to remove all traces of other religions, they asked their followers to destroy black cats. Unfortunately, those who had black cats were thought to be witches and were destroyed too. I think that proves black cats are unlucky. Before gallows were invented, criminals were hung from the top rung of a ladder and their spirits were believed to linger underneath. That's why it's meant to be unlucky to walk under a ladder. I disagree. I think it's unlucky to climb a ladder and more than 222,000 people agree with me. That's how many people a year go to emergency rooms because of ladder accidents - and that's not counting the women who hit their heads on glass ceilings when trying to climb ladders. -
Why Every Theory of Luck Is Wrong
NOUSˆ 50:3 (2016) 490–508 doi: 10.1111/nous.12076 Why Every Theory of Luck is Wrong STEVEN D. HALES Bloomsburg University There are three theories of luck in the literature, each of which tends to appeal to philosophers pursuing different concerns. These are the probability, modal, and control views. I will argue that all three theories are irreparably defective; not only are there counterexamples to each of the three theories of luck, but there are three previously undiscussed classes of counterexamples against them. These are the problems of lucky necessities, skillful luck, and diachronic luck. I conclude that a serious reevaluation of the role of luck in philosophy is called for. The proper understanding of luck has far-reaching implications for many philo- sophical projects, including issues surrounding epistemic luck, moral luck, luck egalitarianism, luck and free will, and serendipitous science. Luck is often taken as an undefined primitive. It is only within the literature of the past 20 years or so has there been any effort to develop theories of luck, but even so these are largely nascent. Before the great machinery of philosophy is fully engaged and be- gins to churn out ever more refined and detailed theories, I aim to throw a wrench into the works. The reigning theories are so fundamentally flawed, along so many dimensions, that a radical rethinking of luck is called for. There are three theories of luck in the literature, each of which tends to appeal to philosophers pursuing different concerns. These are the probability, modal, and control views. I will argue that all three theories are irreparably defective; not only are there counterexamples to each of the three theories of luck, but there are three classes of counterexamples against them. -
The Indigenous Healing Tradition in Calabria, Italy
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 30 Article 6 Iss. 1-2 (2011) 1-1-2011 The ndiI genous Healing Tradition in Calabria, Italy Stanley Krippner Saybrook University Ashwin Budden University of California Roberto Gallante Documentary Filmmaker Michael Bova Consciousness Research and Training Project, Inc. Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Krippner, S., Budden, A., Gallante, R., & Bova, M. (2011). Krippner, S., Budden, A., Bova, M., & Gallante, R. (2011). The indigenous healing tradition in Calabria, Italy. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 30(1-2), 48–62.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 30 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2011.30.1-2.48 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Indigenous Healing Tradition in Calabria, Italy1 Stanley Krippner Saybrook University Ashwin Budden San Francisco, CA, USA Roberto Gallante University of California Documentary Filmmaker San Diego, CA, USA Michael Bova Rome, Italy Consciousness Research and Training Project, Inc. Cortlandt Manor, NY, USA In 2003, the four of us spent several weeks in Calabria, Italy. We interviewed local people about folk healing remedies, attended a Feast Day honoring St. Cosma and St. Damian, and paid two visits to the Shrine of Madonna dello Scoglio, where we interviewed its founder, Fratel Cosimo. -
The Belief in Good Luck Scale
JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 31, 486±511 (1997) ARTICLE NO. RP972197 The Belief in Good Luck Scale Peter R. Darke Marketing Division, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and Jonathan L. Freedman University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada The construction and properties of the Belief in Good Luck (BIGL) Scale are described. Three studies provide evidence that reliable individual differences exist with respect to beliefs about luck. Some individuals maintain an irrational view of luck as a somewhat stable force that tends to in¯uence events in their own favor, while others seem to hold the more rational belief that luck is random and unreliable. Further, these beliefs showed a considerable amount of stability over time. The BIGL was signi®cantly related to locus of control (primarily to a chance subscale), but other evidence suggested these constructs were distinct. Belief in good luck was not related to general optimism, academic pessimism, self-esteem, desire for control, or achievement motivation. There was also evidence that belief in good luck was distinct from feeling fortunate or generally satis®ed with one's life. Ethnic group differences were observed for the BIGL scale, showing that Asian-Americans were more likely to endorse superstitious beliefs about luck than non-Asians. Finally, the BIGL scale was shown to predict positive expectations for the outcome of everyday situations that are typically associated with luck. This is generally in agreement with previous ®ndings suggesting that people who believe in personal good luck react to lucky events by becoming more positive about the likelihood of future The authors are grateful to the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada for its support through a postdoctoral fellowship to the ®rst author and a research grant to the second author. -
How Superstitions, Luck, and Mood Influence Decision Making
34 Journal of Student Research Friday the 13th: How Superstitions, Luck and Mood Influence Decision Making 35 AppData/Roaming/Zotero/Zotero/Profiles/db57csyq.default/zotero/ Friday the 13th: How Superstitions, Luck, and storage/UHE527JQ/stp_preliminary_report_final.authcheckdam.pdf Redfield, S. E., & Nance, J. P. (2016). Task Force on Reversing the School- Mood Influence Decision Making To-Prison Pipeline. American Bar Association, 1-167. Retrieved April 12, 2018, from https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/ administrative/diversity_pipeline/stp_preliminary_report_final. Jacob Dixon authcheckdam.pdf. Senior, Bachelor of Science Psychology Rodríguez Ruiz, R. (2017). School-to-Prison Pipeline: An Evaluation of Zero Tolerance Policies and Their Alternatives. Houston Law Review, 54(3), Katrina Franda1 803–837. Junior, Bachelor of Science Psychology School-to-Prison Pipeline. (2014). Retrieved March 11, 2018, from https:// www.aclu.org/issues/juvenile-justice/school-prison-pipeline Advisor: Chelsea M. Lovejoy, PhD TEDx Talks. (n.d.). Let’s Rewrite the School-to-Prison Pipeline | Debra Postil | TEDxLaSierraUniversity. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=f9tLSklCcgo Author’s Note A special thanks to the University of Wisconsin – Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Science for supporting this research project. Abstract A superstitious belief has the power to affect how people go about their everyday lives and how they even will go out of their way to protect or enhance their future. The purpose of this research was to examine the connection between superstitions, luck, and mood on a risky decision task. Although Friday the 13th, did not directly impact decision making (Study 1), mood states were found to be significantly lower on Friday the 13th relative to mood on Friday the 20th. -
Second Edition of Panabaker Press
Eco Our School Teacher Tips Animal Feature shutterstock.com Panabaker Every Class is Supposed to Press Have DPA on Non-gym Days, Coronavirus vs. Do you? ------ by Alex L. and Anjali N. ------- Society Numerous classes throughout our school seem to be denied the opportunity to exercise, ------ by Tiffany T. and Rowan S. -------- why? The Ministry of Education website states “The Daily Physical Activity Policy (DPA) will I’m sure that ensure that elementary students have a everyone here minimum of twenty minutes of moderate to has heard the vigorous physical activity each school day.” information Ms. Allan agrees with them when she stated, circling around “students are required by the Ministry of Education, not by me or the principal, to have about the coronavirus twenty minutes of DPA.” However, most that has been spreading bat (https://www.cdc.gov). It classes don’t receive any DPA throughout the throughout the world. But do is, however, not the exact week. you really know what it is, how same virus as the 2019-2020 it works, and what we can do coronavirus, as the 2019-nCoV Some classes only receive one hundred sixty to help prevent the spread of is a novel virus, meaning that minutes of physical activity a week, that is two this disease? it has never been seen before. gym and one fitness period. But many teachers are not providing the minimum Coronavirus is not actually How is the Coronavirus amount of DPA. Students are supposed to the real name of this virus. transmitted? It is seemingly receive twenty minutes of DPA, excluding the Coronavirus is a family of transmitted when the days students do not have a physical activity viruses that includes the infected person sneezes or class (fitness or in the gym).