What is the difference between religion and superstition?

Superstition generally refers to blind belief or worship of people or things. Divination, physiognomy, geomantic omen, fortune telling, word-breaking, evocation, dream interpretation, etc. in Chinese history. , is a long-term activity, mostly produced or popular in feudal society, customarily called feudal superstition. Religious belief and superstition do have something in common in epistemology. They all believe in and worship gods or supernatural forces. But superstition does not belong to the religious category, the difference lies in:

First, religion is a social ideology, a historical phenomenon when human society develops to a certain stage, and it has objective laws of its occurrence, development and extinction. In the process of adapting to the long-term development of human society, religion has formed unique religious beliefs, religious feelings, and religious theories, doctrines and regulations that are compatible with this belief. There are strict religious ceremonies, relatively fixed places for religious activities, strict religious organizations and religious systems. And superstition, neither * * * exactly the same object of worship, established purpose, rules or rituals, nor * * * exactly the same place for activities. The object of superstition may be ghosts, mountains and trees. Superstition generally refers to fortune-telling, divination, drawing lots, spelling, dream interpretation, falling immortals, watching Feng Shui and other activities. , is carried out by gods, witches and superstitious professionals with witchcraft. The masses go to see the fortune only to predict the future and destiny, and do not regard it as their own worldview; Superstitious professionals just use these activities to defraud people of money as a means of making a living.

Second, religion is a cultural phenomenon. In the process of its formation and development, religion constantly absorbs various human thoughts and cultures, permeates and tolerates politics, philosophy, law and culture, including literature, poetry, architecture, art, painting, sculpture, music and morality, and becomes an integral part of the world's rich culture. Superstition does not have these characteristics.

Third, religions have social organizations established according to law, managed according to law and carried out standardized religious activities. To protect the normal religious activities and social welfare undertakings of religious organizations within the scope of national laws. The national religious policy encourages religions to carry forward fine traditions and positive factors and adapt to socialist society. Superstition is just a scam of a few superstitious professionals who sacrifice their lives for money. Some superstitious organizations are even places that shelter evil people from evil practices, endanger the masses and even engage in illegal and criminal activities.

The state has clear policy boundaries in dealing with religious beliefs and superstitions. The state implements the policy of freedom of religious belief, guarantees all normal religious activities, and resolutely cracks down on all illegal and criminal activities carried out by religion, as well as all kinds of superstitious activities that do not belong to the scope of religion and endanger the national interests and the safety of people's lives and property. All people who take fortune-telling and geomantic omen as their profession should be educated, persuaded and helped to make a living and stand on their own feet. They shouldn't engage in such activities of deceiving people by superstition. If you don't comply, you should also ban it according to law. Article 300 of the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) stipulates: "Whoever organizes or uses religious sects or cult organizations or uses superstition to undermine the implementation of state laws and administrative regulations shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than seven years; If the circumstances are particularly serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of more than seven years. " Those who use feudal superstitions to endanger national interests, social stability and the safety of people's lives and property, which constitute illegal crimes, must be resolutely cracked down according to law. For printing and disseminating fortune-telling books, lottery fortune-telling and divination, hell to pay is required.