1 Sermon Illustrations on Thirteen Superstition The

1 illustration

Superstition, such as fear surrounding the number thirteen, illustrates how human beliefs can influence behavior and decisions, even in everyday settings like building design. Christian preaching contrasts such fears with faith in God's sovereignty and calls believers to trust divine providence over irrational fears (Isaiah 41:10). These illustrations often use common cultural practices to highlight the folly of superstition.

Thirteen Superstition, The

Many buildings omit the thirteenth floor due to superstition affecting tenants' preferences.

“Have a thirteenth floor in this building?” queries a part owner of one of the famous office buildings in New York. “Never! The thirteenth floor is sometimes difficult to rent; tenants would prefer to go higher or lower.

“The thirteen hoodoo affects more otherwise sane men than is acknowledged. Many of the most famous business buildings in the country have no thirteenth floor--the fourteenth story follows the twelfth. By following this plan, we take the least risk. As the names of tenants are arranged alphabetically on the directory, the omission is seldom noticed.”--_System._

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