What is the difference between religion and superstition?

In real life, the following two situations often occur: first, equate religion with superstition, mistake religious activities for superstitious activities, and ban, boycott or crack down on religious activities from the standpoint of opposing superstitious activities, thus interfering with and infringing on citizens' freedom of religious belief; The other is to mistake superstitious activities for religious activities, and think that stopping superstitious activities will interfere with and violate citizens' freedom of religious belief and leave it alone. Mr. Xu Yucheng, director of the Policy Research Office of the Chinese Buddhist Association and now a teacher of China Buddhist College, has clearly stated in the Question and Answer of Religious Policy and Legal Knowledge that both of these understandings are incorrect, because religion is strictly different from what people usually call superstitious activities that are not within the scope of religion.

First, religion generally has a long history, and there are leaders who founded this religion and are worshipped by believers; Religion has its own written classics, systematic teachings and standardized religious ceremonies, and has a fixed place for religious activities. Superstition is generally the lottery, divination, fortune telling, geomantic omen, exorcism, jumping and other activities that wizards, fortune tellers and fortune tellers engage in. It has no leader, no written classics, no systematic teachings and standardized ceremonies, and no fixed place. It is a primitive and low-level witchcraft activity engaged by immortals, witches and Mr. Feng Shui. Because of the weather, location and people.

Second, all religions have religious groups and organizations composed of believers. Religious groups and organizations are presided over by religious staff, who have strict precepts and teaching hierarchy. All religions also run various forms of religious colleges and universities. There is no strict organizational system for superstitious activities, and there are no groups and organizations recognized by the government; There is no strict discipline and teaching order for people who are engaged in superstitious occupations; It is even more impossible to start an institution; Superstition practitioners have no fixed place to live, showing a state of single dispersion and guerrilla activities.

Third, religion is a world outlook with a set of systematic doctrines, doctrines and philosophical theories; Religion is a social, historical and cultural phenomenon, which has a profound influence on social sciences such as philosophy, literature and art, natural sciences such as medicine, astronomy and architecture, and people's moral concepts. Superstition is not a systematic world outlook and philosophical theory, which goes against social science, natural science and people's moral concepts, and is an ideology that lags behind the culture of the times.

Fourthly, there are many religions in China, such as Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity. "Religious activities such as worshipping Buddha, chanting, burning incense, worshiping, praying, preaching, mass, baptism, fasting, religious festivals, dying mourning and mourning are all taken care of by religious organizations and believers and protected by law. (Selected Documents on Religious Work in the New Period, Religious Culture Press 1995, 1 Edition, p. 63) and superstitious activities such as drawing lots, divination, fortune telling, seeing geomantic omen, exorcising ghosts, and dancing with the gods. It is an activity that confuses the masses and aims at defrauding money. It is opposed, prohibited and banned by national laws and policies.