부산대학교 도서관

Beliefs about supernatural phenomena that have no scientific basis are called paranormal beliefs (Lyons, 2005). Religions may have a significant influence on the development of paranormal beliefs; therefore, the current study compared and contrasted paranormal beliefs among Muslims and Buddhists. Both Islam and Buddhism believe in the existence of jinn or ghosts; however, the beliefs about ghosts are different in the two religions. Buddhists believe that some humans are transformed into any of seven different types of ghosts and that one may safeguard oneself against ghosts by using ghost traps. They also believe in ghost marriage, i.e., a marriage between deceased people. Islam proposes three types of jinn, and these jinn can be categorized as either believers (Muslims) or nonbelievers (Kafirs). Muslims believe that jinn can cause mental and/or physical harm to human beings through possession, causing misfortune, or inflicting sickness. Islamic teachings testify to the harmful effects of the evil eye. Islam allows verses of the Holy Qur'an to be worn as charms or amulets to safeguard against the evil eye and jinn. However, the true teachings of Buddha prohibit all types of charms and amulets; Buddhism does not believe in the evil eye or possession by supernatural forces. We observe that cultural influences play an important role in shaping superstitious behaviors as both Muslims and Buddhists of the South Asian region wear specific kinds of amulets and charms to treat different physical and mental diseases. Similarly, going to living saints and touching their feet and other practices are performed by people of both religions in the subcontinent. Moreover, certain phenomena such as a black cat crossing one's path or the shattering of a mirror are considered signs of misfortune and curses by people of both religions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]