Science And Superstition

The “rural folk magic believe” derived from primitive society has widely survived aftertime changes. In our country,“rural folk magic believe” is less interfered by the governmentafter the reform and opening-up policy, and experiences a renaissance in rural area.“Ruralfolk magic believe”, which is directly related with the living styles and Grassrootsorganizations construction of rural areas, influences the behaviors and minds of believers.This article analyses the basic development, main body, and it’s scientific and superstitiouscomponents of “rural folk magic believe”, discussing the interaction of it’s scientific andsuperstitious components. Proper advices for local government to treat “Rural folk magicbelieve” offers a new way to develop scientific culture and to promote social and ethicalprogress. This article learns field investigation from anthropology, through collectingliterature information, field interviews, and participatory observation, in several villages ofGuan zhong district, by participating in the activities that believers celebrate the templefestivals, showing that “rural folk magic believe” has negative impact on rural society.However,“rural folk magic believe” in some degree makes up the deficiency of ruralinfrastructure, adding color for old villagers, meeting their psychological needs, and isconstructivism of rural community. Therefore, we should hold dialectical view towards“ruralfolk magic believe”, and give suggestions on greatly developing rural economy, developingscientific spirit, strengthening science education universal, and improving advanced thinkingand the closed society’s fit in remote rural areas.“rural folk magic believe” plays a placebo effect on mental construction of believers. Atthe same time, the theory of “rural folk magic believe” is somewhat scientific. They are goodat observance, so possessing information superiority. It proves that “rural folk magic believe”is somewhat scientific when it can cure some illness and predict logically. Nevertheless, itinevitably shows it bad influence for the factors of closed rural social reality, the mystiqueand non-rationality of “rural folk magic believe” and limitation of believers’ realization.“rural folk magic believe” is a complex social phenomenon. We should not only think that itis superstition. We should critically treat the two powers of science and superstition, clarifying therelationship between the two, developing the spirit of science meanwhile toleratingsuperstition. We should provide a place for superstition to exist reasonably, and let the publictreat “rural folk magic believe” rationally, improving our own scientific literacy and livingstandard, breaking the closed living and information environment, letting advanced culturecombining rural live, accelerating the construction of spiritual civilization, healthy socialactivities and faith form in order to provide constructive suggestions.