If say to someone they are superstitious do you think this is taken as a compliment? I guess your personal concept of this term is just that. I am not offended just telling you how the term is used in everyday life.
Lifted from wiki:
I am replying in this thread because although I understand poetical licence I am wary of people using terms to meet certain political means and ends. Words are powerful.the term is used in the pejorative sense it still holds today, of an excessive fear of the gods or unreasonable religious belief, as opposed to religio, the proper, reasonable awe of the gods.
Of course we can employ the same term, quite often, in different ways. Sometimes subtlety and sometimes in a mores stark, and even provocative manner. The term "terrorism" today is often used to condone some vicous acts.
The term superstition has religious roots and was, and still is, used to demean peoples beliefs. It is also used in a more common fashion to describe personal quirks and habits unrelated to any direct religious background. An anti-theist may still perform certain acts, subtle or otherwise, that have the appearance of ritualism/superstition. And again, "ritual" derives from "rite" (religious rite), but has adapted the modern climate to describe some non-religious acts (Japanese tea ceremony etc.).
I thank you for questioning me. It helps me to improve my writing. I was protesting against what other post said, "everything is superstition", I guess you agree with me on that though.
Of course we have to consider each others possible attitudes towards "religion" and understand how what we say can be taken by someone with a different philosophical outlook. To say "everything is superstition" can have some validity from a relativistic position.