Superstition and Believing in Luck.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Anam on July 31, 2011 at 9:49pm

That does make me wonder where that phrase comes from, but I personally like it when people wish me good luck, because then I can blame the outcome on luck.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Morsa on July 31, 2011 at 10:45pm

I don't have an 'atheist belief system', I don't even believe in good luck.
I do frequently wish others good luck or ask for others to wish me luck. It is one of the most innocuous ways to casually form a bond and to let another person know that you are thinking of them. I don't think skeptics believe in luck as superstition, but social animals (like me) love a nice dose of moral support and encouragement.
Let me know if you find a better way to phrase it, until then... Good Luck :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 2, 2011 at 9:32pm

It is a nice way to interact with another human. Afterall, how many others do we meet that think like us here on this site?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on July 31, 2011 at 10:45pm

I view luck as a factor of probability. So I would view it mathematically. So luck to me is :

The extent to which something is probable; the likelihood of something happening or being the case

The extent to which an event is likely to occur, measured by the ratio of the favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rudy Ruddell on July 31, 2011 at 10:51pm

An atheist is someone who has no believes in deities. I know of atheists who believe in reincarnation, astrology and conspiracy theories. A more general term for someone who does not believe in any supernatural phenomenon is naturalist, i.e. someone who only accepts natural explanations.

 

That being said, believing in luck is believing in supernatural and is not naturalistic. We naturalists must fight every day against natural instincts to perceive agency when there really isn't one. I try to fight all thoughts of fate and luck, which try to creep into my thoughts. The more of these silly thoughts we accept, the easier it is for others to creep in. There is no luck, there is only probability. Sometimes things happen to our advantage, but usually they don't unless we are constantly trying to set the odds on our side.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joe Swam on August 1, 2011 at 4:10am

"Luck is probability taken personally" - Chip Denman, manager of the Statistics Lab at the University of Maryland

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard K. Emms on August 1, 2011 at 6:35am

"Good Luck" to me means "I hope you beat the odds".  Ergo, mathematical.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by booklover on August 1, 2011 at 7:52am

Would maybe wishing them good fortune be better?  Like you hope they are fortunate?  Not sure if that's superstitious.  I don't really believe in good luck either, it's just something I say.  I also say goddammit, but I don't believe there is a god.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rudy Ruddell on August 1, 2011 at 10:48am

For atheists who were never deeply indoctrinated, perhaps, saying religious words is not a problem. For me, having been indoctrinated twice by fundy religions as a child, it is a daily fight for me to keep religious words out of my mind because they can lead to thoughts of fear of Hell, even after 35 years of atheism. It is a discipline that I exercise to sharpen my critical thinking skills.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by booklover on August 1, 2011 at 1:55pm

wow I really never thought of that having never been brainwashed into believing anything to begin with.  Thanks for telling your story of why you try not to say religious words! :)  They mean absolutely nothing to me and never have, so you're right, that's probably why I just say them.  It's cool to learn new things on here!~ Melinda

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Atheist Andrea on August 2, 2011 at 9:34pm

Sorry to hear that, Rudy. You seem to have been traumatized as a kid but you fought through it, luckily.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rudy Ruddell on August 3, 2011 at 12:13am

Thanks. The fight seems never ending, but it grows easier, even after 35 years.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page