SUPERSTITION, and Superstitious. These Words are found only in the New Testament. Festus Governor of Judea, speaking to King Agrippa, told him, that Paul had some Dispute with the other Jews, concerning Matters of their own Superstition.Acts xxv. 19. He spoke like a true Pagan, that was equally ignorant, both of the Christian Religion, and that of the Jews. St. Paul, Colos. ii. 23.writing to the Colossians, recommended to them, not to regard those false Teachers, who would persuade them to a Compliance with human Maxims, which have indeed some Appearance of Wisdom, in an affected Humility and Superstition. Lastly, the same Apostle, speaking to the Athenians, says to Acts xvii. 22.them; I perceive that in all Things ye are too superstitious.
The Latin Word Superstitio, may insinuate, either that a superstitious Person adds something to the ordinary Worship, quod superstat & superfluit, which is redundant and unnecessary; so that superstitio may stand for a superfluous Worship: Or it may intimate, that a superstitious Man looks upon God and Religion as an insupportable Yoke; Horribili super aspectu mortalibus instans, as Lucretius says. The Greeks call it Deisidaimonia, a the Terror of the Gods. For the superstitious Man looks upon God as a severe and rigid Master, and observes with Fear and Trembling what he thinks to be agreeable to him, for fear of provoking his Anger, and drawing his Resentment upon him. Varro said, that the pious Man honour’d and fear’d God, but the superstitious Man dreaded him, and was seized with Terror before him. And Maximus Tyrius tells us, that a Man truly pious looks upon God as a Friend full of Goodness, and the superstitious Man serves him with Sentiments of a base and mean Flattery.
In the Old Testament we find a great many sorts of Superstition prohibited; as all sorts of Divinations, and superstitious Observations of Dreams, and of the Flight of Birds; the several sorts of Idolatry and superstitious Worship of Angels; the sacrificing human Victims; the Pharisaical Traditions concerning Tythes; concerning the Observation of the Sabbath; concerning Purifications; and a vast many others with which Jesus Christ reproaches the Pharisees in the Gospel. St. Paul always vigorously oppos’d those Jewish Teachers, who would introduce their superstitious and vain Practices into Christianity. See Rom. xiv. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. 1 Cor. viii. 3, 4, 5, &c. Colos. ii. 18, 19, 20, &c.