Their religion is important to a great many people. It offers them some security and comfort and helps give the believer an identity. But, in exchange, one has to follow the rules of the system, and the believer cannot change the rules, as they are all laid down in the holy books. However, this is true of all ideologies, and we find “gurus” everywhere.

When I was a child I encountered many superstitious beliefs:
“If you break a mirror you will get seven years’ bad luck.”
“If you make someone a present of a knife or scissors, the person must pay you something to avoid cutting the friendship.”
“If it rains on St Swithin’s Day (15th July), it will rain for the next 40 days.”

I suspect that most readers did so too. The actual beliefs depend on the culture, but all cultures have them.

“The witch cried yesterday and the child died today, who does not know that it was the witch that cried yesterday that killed the child who died today” Yoruba proverb.

In Africa, superstitions are common and widespread. They include absurd claims and conceptions. Crafted by primitive human beings, these irrational beliefs permeate all aspects of African thought and culture: family life, farming, trading, mining, politics, film industry, etc. And one of the most potent African superstitions is belief in witchcraft.

In September 2006, a friend and I boarded a bus for Benin-City.

As we were about to leave, a small, middle-aged man jumped in to address the passengers. “I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.”

“Welcome and thank you, man of God”, replied the passengers and bus driver.

Nepal, the land of Buddha and Mt. Everest, is a small country sandwiched between two intimidating giants – India in the south and China in the north. This nation of about 25 million depends primarily on agriculture. Politically speaking, Nepal remained a sovereign kingdom throughout history.

An excellent start has been made to IHEU’s campaign against popular superstition with the launch on 27 August 2007 of a unique Science Education Programme in India.

The Leadership Training Camp for Dalits being organised in Suryapet town (Andhra Pradesh, India) with IHEU's support was going at full speed. Mr. Veeraswami the leader of Spoorthi, the local implementing organisation, and Mr. V.B.

In the August International Humanist News the title of Professor Taner Edis’s latest book was given wrongly. We apologise to Professor Edis for the mistake. The book is An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam (Prometheus Books, 2007).

After editing two issues of IHN, the current editor, Diana Brown, is stepping down. We are pleased to announce that the new editor will be Sangeeta Mall, who brings to the post a wealth of experience. Sangeeta is a writer on many subjects (one of her articles appeared in the August edition of International Humanist News) and a lecturer on human rights.

After looking at some aspects of superstition, it is only appropriate that we also look at religious beliefs. Most Humanists see religion as founded in superstition, but there is no doubt that religions hold billions of people in thrall.

Apostates