define religion?

Answer 1

A belief in a Supreme Being, a Creator and a Power larger than we are.

Answer 2

Tricky. In a great many respects, religions can't be differentiated from many other ideologies (i.e. social realities, means of figuring and legitimizing the relations between human beings), and many ideologies rely more on quasi-religious arbitration than they would like to admit.

You might claim that religion involves ideology with a "supernatural" element to it, but supernatural is hard to define- it suggests something beyond the interpretive systems individuals use. But then, inasmuch as all ideologies eventually have to rely on some kind of arbitration (because any reasoning will itself invite further interpretation), one might claim that most means of figuring reality rely on things not entirely different to the "supernatural". Not sure- I'll have to think about this one...

Answer 3

Just a note. Not all religions believe in a supernatural power. Zen Buddhism, one of the oldest religions, is atheistic.

Answer 4

Definitions of religion on the Web:

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality"
an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Religion—sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices and institutions associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind's relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken a huge number of forms in various cultures and individuals. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion

Answer 5

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Answer 6

a belief of who started the world and who has good teachings and there is different gods, think they are all buddies and there should be on big religion

Answer 7

something that man made up to control the unwashed uneducated masses. just remember
the supreme being HAS not religion- so neither do you need to!

Answer 8

a good thing when used in the right contexted

Answer 9

A man-made concept for the encouragement of social cohesion.

Answer 10

Opiate of the masses