It's a gift from GOD...

Would it make any difference if it was said;

"It's a spiritual thing."?

Having a sense of spirituality actually does something physically good for the body, we know that.

'Knocking on wood"is relying on luck.

You are assuming, incorrectly in my opinion, that "spiritual thing" is not relying on luck!

All good software has a default option, why not life?

We can think of God as the default option:

When you feel thankful, but don't have anyone specific to thank,
you can say "Thank God".

When you need something, but there's no one to give it to you,
you can say "Please, God."

When you're totally wowed, but don't know who to credit,
you can say "Oh my God!"

When you're filled with regret but haven't offended anyone in particular,
you can say "God, forgive me."

You don't actually have to believe in God.
God can be a kind of placeholder.
Like Delaware.

No problem with that at all, George.

I certainly am not above an occasional, "Oh, god help us all."

In fact, I am more likely to invoke, "God almighty, do we have to go over that again"...than I am to say, "So far, so good...knock on wood."

In neither of those case do I mean to invoke a deity...but it makes (in your words) a decent place holder comment.

Would you go as far as dismissing all of religion as primitive superstition?

I could just say, YES, Wandel, but I prefer to reword to convey my "yes."

I consider (rather than "dismiss") all religion to be superstition (rather than "primitive" superstition)...even thought I acknowledge some religion might be "right."

I can say more about that, but I'd really like to hear what you say about my answer...and what you are getting at.

Some "definition of terms" may be useful here.

Sorry for my lack of clarity. I, personally, view all superstition as primitive. I also tend to view religious practices as primitive. Religious thought, on the other hand, is something that I often admire and take note of.

Superstition is certainly a loaded term and, for most, implies the primitive.