"Toddler weds dog to defeat tiger curse"...When superstition gets out of control.

[Raven's Nest]

Indian parents have married their young son to a dog in order to prevent the prophecised murder of their child by a tiger.

Full(ish) article here - http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=14321257

My question is at what point will common sense and logical 21st Century thinking prevent or even outlaw such practises from happening? And out of interest, why are such beliefs held in such high regard over more 'concrete' evidence like scientific data or statistical studies?

The human race appears to be reaching the pinnacle of its existance (judging by my un-educated guess) yet many people still get hung up on the idea of superstions/curses....Why?

Although it has to be said once in a while, articles like the one mentioned above do brighten up my day and keep the world an interesting place to live.

P.S Sorry if this has been discussed recently, the thread searcher wasn't working for me... I did look.

 

[RebelRising]

Well, it's an Eastern Indian tribe, so I would hazard a guess and say that they have yet to be exposed to modern-world logic. Though if I had to chose between inter-species marriage or Miley Cyrus, I would pick the bride-dog, easily. Modern-world logic has yet to do a whole lot for us.

 

[cainx10a]

It's called religion, and "Logical 21st century thinking" doesn't exist.

Not religion really, just an outdated cultural norm, similar to the sick festivities held to celebrate the defloration of the newly wed in some middle-eastern society(not exactly sure about this - I did read a short story on this). Some toddler are married to each other since birth in India, or even other 3rd world countries, mainly to huh, bridge the gap between two families or w/e it is they expect to achieve with the union etc ...

"Superstition is still a potent force in tribal and remote communities of India."
These people often won't have access to education or a normal lifestyle. Born in some dirty muddy village, dies in the same place scenario.

 

[Marv21]

Well it is indigenous religion, I think that we shouldn't even give snide ass remarks to them in person...we do it over the internet.

But rly!
They just saved that child from a tigger

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

Self fulfilling prophecy: the dog is actually a tiger and eats the kid.

 

[Raven's Nest]

It's called religion, and "Logical 21st century thinking" doesn't exist.

I deliberately avoided the religion factor when writing the question in the first place. As that's a whole other ballpark. Although they are very much a part of the general argument for e.g, contraception and catholicsim. (but it's been argued to the death)

I'm just putting my idealistic brain on the frontline and demanding for someone to explain to me exactly why I shouldn't walk under a ladder etc, in the days of health and safety nazi's and so on...

 

[kommando367]

Well, it's an Eastern Indian tribe, so I would hazard a guess and say that they have yet to be exposed to modern-world logic. Though if I had to chose between inter-species marriage or Miley Cyrus, I would pick the bride-dog, easily. Modern-world logic has yet to do a whole lot for us.

couldn't of said it better myself

 

[cystemic]

no i think the dog runs away, the kid runs after it, gets lost and then gets eaten by a tiger

 

[Cid Silverwing]

I'm sorry, but that's just sad...

 

[McClaud]

It's like the Korean fan death superstition, and they are pretty much in the 21st Century.

Logic only applies when the people want to be logical, otherwise ... not so much.

 

[pigmonkey]

thats nothing new, my brother married a dog HEYYYYOOOOOO!!

 

[SimuLord]

I'm entirely familiar with superstition---I used to play baseball. There's not a nuttier tribe in the world than a bunch of ballplayers trying to keep a streak going.

 

[joystickjunki3]

Well, it's an Eastern Indian tribe, so I would hazard a guess and say that they have yet to be exposed to modern-world logic. Though if I had to chose between inter-species marriage or Miley Cyrus, I would pick the bride-dog, easily. Modern-world logic has yet to do a whole lot for us.

I am on your side for this matter.

 

[Turkishchocolate]

Maybe it's one of those things where they get married and never see each other again, the dog gets eaten and the child lives a normal life.

 

[nekolux]

It's called religion, and "Logical 21st century thinking" doesn't exist.

Not religion really, just an outdated cultural norm, similar to the sick festivities held to celebrate the defloration of the newly wed in some middle-eastern society(not exactly sure about this - I did read a short story on this). Some toddler are married to each other since birth in India, or even other 3rd world countries, mainly to huh, bridge the gap between two families or w/e it is they expect to achieve with the union etc ...

"Superstition is still a potent force in tribal and remote communities of India."
These people often won't have access to education or a normal lifestyle. Born in some dirty muddy village, dies in the same place scenario.

Superstition is merely a primitive form of religion. Primeval gods that tribes worship are really just the pre'civilized' versions of religion. I tend to agree with necro there.

 

[sirsolo]

It's a learning experience!

....

For the rest of us at least..

 

[white_salad]

I'm entirely familiar with superstition---I used to play baseball. There's not a nuttier tribe in the world than a bunch of ballplayers trying to keep a streak going.

This man speaks the truth. I also used to play baseball, and some players will go bat shit crazy with their superstitions. How they walk up to the plate, how they wear their socks, and many other quite disturbing things. My friend had to scratch his nads right before batting because it's lucky. Looked like the guy had a horrible rash in his man hash.

But on topic, it may seem odd to us, but it's probably normal to them. Different cultures and all that jazz.

 

[Alex_P]

Umm, they're not really "married" in the way we think of it. It's just a one-time ritual thing. To my knowledge, you don't do anything special with the animal afterward.

When some folks did a similar thing with frogs a few months ago, they just put the frogs back into the wild after they were done with them.

-- Alex

 

[Ultrajoe]

And this, ladies an gentlemen, is why westerners should stop thinking they know jack about anything outside their own suburb, let alone another country.

I'm not going to bother explaining it, but if you put the point in an open room, you would all be sitting on mars.