The key difference between taboo and superstition is that taboo is an activity or behavior that is considered unacceptable or prohibited in a particular society, whereas superstition is a belief that is not based on logical reasoning or scientific knowledge.
Taboos and superstitions can be found in any culture and any society. Although both taboo and superstition are culturally formed conditions, there are few distinctions between these two.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is a Taboo
3. What is a Superstition
4. Taboo vs Superstition in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Taboo vs Superstition
What is a Taboo?
A taboo refers to any action or expression that is considered inappropriate or prohibited by a particular culture or society. Generally, taboos originate according to cultural origins and cultural senses. At the same time, taboos can be different from one culture to the other as well as from one society to another. Although taboos are unacceptable behaviors, this does not mean that taboos do not exist. They do exist, but people who engage in taboos do them secretly. If people engage in these activities openly, they may be isolated from society and can sometimes be even legally penalized.
Some common taboos in many societies include abortion, drug addiction, cannibalism, adultery, racism, sexism, and smoking. Taboos can be different from one community to the other. For example, although abortions are legalized in some countries, it is illegal in some other countries. In addition to common taboos, there are religious taboos as well. Premarital sex, birth control, eating beef, eating pork, homosexuality, and menstruation are some cultural taboos and religious taboos.
What is a Superstition?
A superstition refers to any belief or activity that is considered magical or supernatural. Superstitions are not based on any scientific or logical foundation. They can be found in any society or in any community. At the same time, these superstitions are different from one community to the other.
Superstitions originate as a result of human faith in magic, omen, and supernatural events. There are superstitious methods like fortune-telling, ghosts, gods, and astrology in many communities. When people in a particular society or community become unexpected followers of superstitions, it hinders the development of science and rationality in that particular society. Moreover, governments or societies should take necessary actions to control the over-embracement of superstitious beliefs of people. For example, the practice of black magic is totally based on superstitious beliefs like supernatural powers and magic. Superstitious beliefs are mostly seen in underdeveloped communities and societies. The use of superstition is less in developed societies and communities when compared to underdeveloped and developing countries.
What is the Difference Between Taboo and Superstition?
The key difference between taboo and superstition is that taboo is based on a culturally accepted prohibition of activity, whereas superstition is not based on logical and scientific reasoning. Moreover, a taboo is an unspoken prohibition of a certain activity or a certain expression, whereas superstition is just a mythical belief that does not contain any rationality. Besides, taboos are formed on a cultural level, while superstitions originate from the faith of humans.
Below is a summary of the difference between taboo and superstition in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Taboo vs Superstition
Both taboos and superstitions are created by the ancestors of a particular society or a community. The key difference between taboo and superstition is that taboo is an activity, behavior, or expression considered as unacceptable or prohibited in a particular society or a community, whereas superstition is a belief that is not based on logical reasoning or scientific knowledge.
Reference:
1. “Superstition.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Feb. 2022.
2. “Taboo.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Jan. 2022.
Image Courtesy:
1. “No-drugs-sign-healthy-forbidden” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Oracle-cards-tarot-card-cards-tarot” (CC0) via Pixabay