Believe It or Not
New Zealand is often called a secular society, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t believers. Today the Sunday-Star Times launches an online survey to find out just what New Zealanders believe in, from the paranormal to superstitions; from strategies for winning Lotto, to urban myths, and we want you to take part. ——————– The survey is being conducted at www.sstlive.co.nz until August 24, but below is a preview of the type of questions we’re asking. Survey entrants will go in the draw to win one of two Vodafone BlackBerry Pearl 8110s, worth $899 each. They come loaded with Vodafone Compass, which is free until the end of October.
UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following claims. There are no right or wrong answers. This is a sample of your own beliefs and attitudes:
* The soul continues to exist though the body may die.
* Some individuals are able to levitate (lift) objects through mental forces.
* Black magic really exists.
* Black cats can bring bad luck.
* Your mind or soul can leave your body and travel (astral projection).
* Taniwha do exist.
* Human behaviour is causing ongoing global climate change.
* The abominable snowman of Tibet exists.
* Some psychics can accurately predict the future.
* There is a heaven and/or a hell.
* Mind reading is not possible.
* There are actual cases of witchcraft.
* It is possible to communicate with the dead.
* Some people have an unexplained ability to predict the future.
* Some numbers and/or sequences of numbers are particularly lucky/unlucky.
LOTTO!
* How frequently do you buy a Lotto ticket?
* If you do buy Lotto tickets, do you regularly use the same numbers?
* If you do buy Lotto tickets, do you believe that some numbers are luckier than others?
* If you do buy Lotto tickets, do you believe that some Lotto outlets are luckier than others?
HEALTH
Below is a list of practices that people might turn to to address illness and health problems or to ensure continuing good health. Please rate how generally effective you believe each of these approaches to be.
* Medicine (standard medical treatment)
* Homeopathy
* Hypnotherapy
* Chinese medicine
* Aromatherapy
* Acupuncture
* Chiropractic manipulation
* Maori healing
YOUR ACTIONS
Have you ever . . .
* Visited an astrologer
* Looked up your (or someone else’s) horoscope
* Watched a TV psychic (eg John Edward, Colin Fry)
* Visited a Tarot reader
* Looked up your (or someone else’s) biorhythm profile
* Visited a palm reader
* Worn a St Christopher talisman while travelling
* Visited a psychic
* Attended a seance
* Watched Sensing Murder
LUCK
The following actions are considered by some people to be lucky. How often have you performed these actions (even if only out of habit)?
* “Knocked” or “touched” wood
* Tossed spilt salt over your shoulder
* Taken something into an exam, or important sports event, something that is important or significant
* Avoided sitting on a table used for eating
* Walked around a ladder rather than under it
* Thrown a coin into a fountain or well
* Wished on a falling star
Some people think the following events can be a cause of bad luck. Please indicate how strongly you agree.
* It is bad luck to break a mirror.
* It is bad luck if a fantail comes into your house.
* It is bad luck to look at the new moon through glass.
* It is bad luck to leave chopsticks standing up in a bowl of food.
* It is bad luck to have 13 people at a table.
CONTROVERSIAL EVENTS
Below is a list of theories about the causes of important or controversial events. Please read through, and indicate how likely these are as actual explanations.
* The All Blacks were deliberately poisoned before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.
* Princess Diana was killed by the British secret service in order to prevent a royal scandal.
* A secret cabal of American and European elite control the election of national leaders, the world economy, and direct the course of history in their favour.
* There is a deliberate political conspiracy to suppress the rights of minorities in New Zealand.
* Nasa faked some (or all) of the moon landings for publicity.
* The war in Iraq has less to do with promoting democracy than it does with controlling oil production in the east.
* Elvis Presley faked his own death to escape the pressures of fame, the shame of his decline, or the unwanted attentions of the Mob.
* New Zealand society is constantly being manipulated by big business.
* World governments are hiding evidence that the Earth has been visited by aliens.
* The American government was either involved in, or knew about, the September 11 attacks before they happened.
MYTH OR TRUTH
How likely do you think it is that the following statements are true?
* If you go swimming within an hour of eating you’re more likely to get cramp and drown.
* The food colourants cochineal and carmine are made from crushed beetles.
* We use only 10% of our brain.
* Eating carrots improves your eyesight.
* If you spend too much time at a tanning salon, you can cook your internal organs.
* Using a cellphone at a petrol station can cause an explosion.
* Pet baby alligators have grown to enormous size in sewers after being flushed down the toilet.
* As long as you pick up a piece of food dropped on the floor within five seconds it won’t be contaminated by germs.
* There is a giant black cat living wild in the South Island countryside.
SPIRITUALITY
* Do you consider yourself to be a spiritual person?
* Do you consider yourself to be religious?
(c) 2008 Sunday Star – Times; Wellington, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.