TOME 10 PART 13; SUPERSTITION; THE IRRATIONAL FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN VS FAITH; THE RATIONAL FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
THE TWO TYPES OF FEAR
1. Rational Fear based on Fact, Experience or Faith; This Fear is based either on painful experiences of the past one does not wish to repeat which forms the foundation of Taboos that govern certain cultures. It is also based in the belief that there are certain forces in existence one cannot see and control. For instance the Faith that forms the backbone of Religion based in the belief of the existence of God and Spirits, the belief that God rewards good and punishes injustice, the belief that though the Devil exists, no wise man has 'Faith' in it for his intent is destruction and such is his 'Fate'. Regardless of this fact though one must not underestimate its capacity to cause 'havoc'.
2. Irrational Fear; This Fear is based solely on instinct or biases that something or someone we either can or cannot see is a 'potential threat' to our 'continued existence' even if they show no indication that that is their 'intent'. This is the essence of 'Superstition' which Africans generally refer to as 'Juju'
THE IRONY OF IRRATIONAL FEAR VS RATIONAL FEAR
Rational Fear:
Most people that believe in the existence of the 'Unknown', 'Supreme Being' or 'God', 'Ancestors' that protect the land and 'Spirits' and know their power to either 'provide assistance' or 'cause havoc' entrust themselves to a 'Higher Force' precisely because you don't want to fall prey to some of these 'Cruel Taskmasters'. Entrusting yourself to a 'Higher Force' such as God grants you the 'Divine Protection' of the 'Deity' you have entrusted yourself to but know you this day that if your Deity is subordinate to another 'Master' you are in 'Grave Trouble'.
Because their 'Fear' is based on their 'acknowledgement' of the 'existence' of these 'Spiritual Forces', their 'Lives' and 'Fears' often conform to this 'belief' and is thus based on 'Fact' and not 'Superstition'. Even if you want to make the argument that that 'Fact' is not 'Factual' to everyone, still, it 'governs' the 'operation' of their 'Lives' and offers a sense of 'Constancy', the principle on which 'Security' is built; for there can be no 'Security' in 'inconsistency', 'disloyalty', 'faithlessness' and 'wishy-washy parameters'. At least the 'consistency' of a person 'offers' some 'security' by virtue of the knowledge that they will not run 'contrary' to their 'Programming'. Wickedness is never good, but a 'wicked person who is perfectly as constant as a Leopard offers no new unpleasant surprises' thus there is 'some level of Virtue to his wickedness in spite of his utter folly' in the fact that 'he has a certain code of conduct' and will not run 'contrary to his Programming'.
Irrational Fear;
We have the other side of the 'Campaign' who deny belief in the existence of 'Spiritual Forces' and their 'Power for Good or Ill' and proclaim the 'ignorance of those who believe in these 'Superstitious Nonsense'. That is not the point of the argument so I will not base my argument on this.
What I base my argument on is these people who claim not to believe in 'Superstitious Nonsense' are the very same ones who consider another member of their own Species as an 'Existential Threat' simply by Virtue of the fact that the other is simply taking a breath. His very act of eating is a 'threat to their existence', 'his sleep is a threat to them', 'his happiness is a threat to them', 'his goals are a threat to them'. 'Even his Virtual MMORPGs are a threat to them. Even when they claim that they must prosecute the other for the 'Act Of Deception', the very fact that they 'prosecute Deception knowing full well that Deception can never be based on 'Fact' is a confirmation of their 'Perfect and Absolute Belief in the Power Of Juju'. Ask them why they fear another 'Race' or 'Niche' and they will give you an 'unjustifiable answer rooted in the very thing whose existence they deny namely 'The Power Of Juju' or Superstition'. The Story we hear is that 'Colonial Masters' are of a 'Superior Race' while their 'Vassal States' are 'inferior'. Most of these Fears aren't based on Fact. The irony is 'while the inferior Race finds it a 'Great Honour to be in the presence of their Colonial Oppressors', the 'Superior Race' feels threatened by the very 'presence' of the 'Inferior Race'. Another perfect confirmation of their 'Total, Perfect, and Absolute Belief in the 'Power Of Juju' or 'Evil African Magic'. They tend to be even more 'Superstitious than the very ones who believe in the Superstition they condemn'. They are even more 'loyal' than the most 'Zealous Supporters Of The Gods'. Since these Fears and the resulting actions are based on irrationality, these are classified as 'Perfectly Superstitious Skeptics; ignorant of their Zealous Belief in the concept of Superstition'. The moment you 'fear' another and cannot justify the 'reason or purpose behind your 'Fear', such is 'Superstition', when you deny your belief in Superstition despite this fact, that is 'Irrationality' since your every action confirms your 'most Zealous, Absolute, Perfectly Loyal Belief in the Power Of Juju or African Black Magic'.
LEGENDS;
AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION; The Virtuous Belief in the Existence Of Forces beyond One's control.
JUJU: The 'Experimental Belief' in the 'ability' to 'manipulate Forces beyond your Control' in order to make another's life Miserable. Everyone knows, the common man even, that you cannot 'manipulate Forces beyond your Control', you can only 'channel and utilize their power when you align yourselves to their Purposes'. If they are like the lightning, you are a Copper Wire. If you resist their Power, your Circuit will Short Circuit (Perfect Mbowatiaism/Dwarfication). You cannot 'manipulate' something far more 'Powerful' or 'Wiser' than you can ever 'imagine'. But the very fact that you believe you can...that is Juju; the fact that you believe you can turn something far 'Stronger' and 'Wiser' than you are into your 'Personal Slave'...such is Juju or African Black Magic.
Fun Fact; At times, the Spirits humour you enough to bend certain Laws Of Physics to your Advantage for they know 'All Man is grass, here today, gone tomorrow', they will outlive your existence...so why not give an idiot what he wants for a while...show him the consequences of his Folly...and entertain ourselves...for it is not everday that Gods encounter that sort of entertainment in the Mortal Realm.