How many have died or been murdered as a result of superstition?

Question

Are there examples in History?Have scientists ever been targeted?

Answer 1

Superstition has been responsible for the deaths of many.  This is especially true if you broaden your definition of superstition to include religion.

Answer 2

only every single person that has died in any war remotely involving religion

Answer 3

Too many to count

Answer 4

People never died from superstition or religion directly.

They were misguided by the leaders that were fundamentalist extremists.

How bad did the Germans hate Jews before Hitler infected a whole country;s thinking.

Those who see a certain religion guilty, and not the leader, is just not thinking.

Answer 5

Of course.  Especially when you realize that all religion in superstition.

Answer 6

The Crusades, the many Jihads, the current infighting between moslem and other heathen sects? The numbers of those who have did due to superstition are incalculable.

Answer 7

There are many people in history that have died as a result of taking bad advice from people who are not competent.  Uneducated Shaman have advised people to take herbs to cure diseases when herbal remedies were not enough.  People have heeded ill advised recommendations from pseudo psychics when their real problem was their diet or lifestyle.  People have even been sacrificed in the name of resolving a drought or assisting in a harvest.

These are all tragedies that could have been avoided with some concious and responsible thinking.  In addition, there have been numerous examples of people who have died as a result of misguided advice from politicians, doctors, or corporate representatives who were recommending solutions based on good intentions but bad science.  Consider the fact that cigarettes were actually considered to be healthy until studies were done in the 1950's.  Or the people who bought houses in Love Canal only to find that the toxic wastes stored in the area were polluting their water supplies.  Or those who take handfulls of medication prescribed by MDs to cure symptoms instead of treating the root causes only to find that they have developed liver problems due to the excessive toxins that have built up in their bodies.

Each of us must be responsible for our own health and well being.  It is important to question those who proport to be saviors and offer a quick fix whether they have scientific training or not.  

People die every day looking for the "holy grail".  Some people look to science to deliver them from their problems, and others look to different sources.  I personally have seen people thrive as a result of positive thinking and a good attitude, and I have also seen those who wither away while choosing chemotherapy to cure them.  

It's all about a personal choice of lifestyle.  Interesting question zach.  Thanks.