[Points: What it means in a wider sense—the basis of religion what it means in common talk—no man or community entirely free from it—a few examples—our duty.]
Superstition means in a wider sense unreasoning fear of the unknown or mysterious. There are few people who are altogether free from it. This may seem rather strange. Man prides himself on his gift of reason and generally refuses to believe anything which not be explained by science or philosophy. Still, the really wise admit that human knowledge is limited after all, and that "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy," as Shakespeare put it. In fact superstition in this sense is at the root of all religious faiths, including the faith in God. The great German poet Goethe said, "Superstition is a part of the very being of humanity."
In common talk, however, the word is used as a term of disgrace or reproach for senseless belief based on ignorant of fear. We look down upon the uncivilised people as 'superstitious' because they worship the different aspects of Nature and are filled with awe by things that are simple enough to us. The Hindus are taunted by the westerner because many of them regard' a sneeze or the cry of the lizard or a call from behind when one is starting as ominous, and consider certain combinations of stars and days of the moon as inauspicious. But the western people too have their own superstitions. If a cat crosses their path, they consider the start inauspicious; the number 13 is so unlucky that it must be avoided by all means; the doors of the house must be left open on certain nights in order that a particular deity may come and fill the lists of children with presents. Indeed, every community is subject to me superstition, nor can we conceive of any community being completely free from it at any time.
This does not mean that as superstition is natural to man, there is nothing to think about it. Far from it; if we find that a superstition is proving harmful, it should be our duty to remove it through reason and persuasion. Ridicule will only embitter the feelings and deepen the roots. We should remember the wise line of Bacon, "There is a superstition in avoiding superstition."
