What is religion?

Question

what makes something a religion

Answer 1

war and death

Answer 2

More than three-quarters of the world’s population consider that they belong to a religion. But what is religion and what does it mean to be religious? The world’s religions share many of the same broad features. We could say that religions are about the following things:

Searching for Truth or God
Many people believe there is something beyond everyday human life, which explains the way things are. They try to discover what that “something” is. In some religions there is a God, in others an Ultimate Truth.

Holding Beliefs and Following Teachings
Most religions have a belief in God, although they differ in what they think about God. Most religions also give guidance about how to lead your life and they try to answer hard questions such as: Why did the world begin?, Why is there suffering? And what happens after death?

Following Certain Practices
Religions may have rules about clothing, food and other everyday things, as well as about ways of worshipping and praying.

Belonging to a Community
A religious community can mean all the people who go to worship at a local religious building. It can also mean everyone around the world who belongs to a particular religion. Both these types of communities have people in charge who teach and guide others in their religion. This protects the religion’s beliefs and teachings. In some religions people try to persuade more people to join their community.

Worshipping Together in Special Buildings
In most religions, people gather together regularly to worship God. They have special buildings where worship takes place. Often these buildings are used for community activities too.

Reading Special Texts
Special texts called scriptures teach people beliefs and values. Some scriptures are believed to be words from God, and so people try to obey these scriptures in their lives.

Sharing Special Moments
There are many events in life that people do not want to experience alone. Some of these are happy, such as celebrating the birth of a child and marriage. Others are sad times such as the death of a loved one. Religions have special ceremonies for these times in people’s lives.

Expressing Beliefs and values through Social Action
What people believe affects the way they view the world and the way they live their lives. Many religions teach about how we should act towards other people. These beliefs leads some people to do charity work or to stand up for human rights

Answer 3

A religion is a path for the unsure . No one actually knows why we are on this world or what our purpose is here. Some people prefere to choose their own religions like football, The controlers have implimented methods of consuming our time spent in this world, and given us a path and a guide for life. Everything is set on occuping your brain so you dont get the chance to find its full potential. Since birth we have been told what we can and cannot do, whats right and whats wrong.

Discover your own path and learn to fly.

Answer 4

Religion is the ultimate con, it is government protected, tax free and the product they sell doesn't have to be delivered until you reach a place that doesn't exist. No wonder so many people jump on this manured money wagon. God is the end result of a failed search for truth by a very shallow mind, provided that any search was made at all instead of swallowing the pile of delusional bilge that was spoon fed to you as a child

Answer 5

My unpopular feeling about religion is that it's only value is to build walls between people. A lot of people make a lot of money on it also.
If we all just belived in the golden rule, there would be no need for religion.
I think the first bible was written for the masses inabout 1850. Who knew all the stories for 1850 years and passed them along with no changes???
I break no laws, treat people well and do NOT go to church.

Answer 6

There is a story of a King who wanted to test his people to find his successor. He told them that he had placed a diamond on the top of a high mountain, and he or she who brought him the diamond would inherit the kingdom.

But he had placed along the paths, bags of copper coins near the bottom, and silver coins, higher up, and gold coins higher still.

Many came to the mountain, and seeing the bags of coins, filled their pockets, and being burdened by the weight of them, decided to be content with the lesser prize and gave up their search for the diamond.

Only one person shunned the easy way, and did not stop for anything until he found his way to the diamond.

Today's religions are just like the bags of coins: they give something, but it is not the true knowledge of God. The path to the diamond of spiritual knowledge and truth, is a lonely path, but those with courage, constancy of purpose, and determination, will follow it to the end.

Answer 7

Religion is in the eye of the beholder. Christianity took 300+ years to be accepted as somthing other then a cult.

Answer 8

before asking what is a religion we must ask what are you ?
the answer will be that you're a creature that didn't come to this earth by a coincidence or just as a surprise gift for your family :) , you were created by a creator who created you for a certain purpose and because he made you , you must follow him , and the steps you're going to do to follow him " if were specified by him " ...then this is religion , my faith is in Islam , and our creator is Allah , and because Allah has sent us all and created us to build that earth and make good lives and spread peace and love here and in the same time to worship him and he regulated our life system " i.e . marriage , inheritage , death , .....etc" ...hence it's called a religion ....and for others who don't believe in Islam they are trying to follow "what they think " created them or had a say in their existence in life or at least what they think control this earth " even though it can't cause any benefit or harm for them actually as it has no mind " ex: fire , sun , moon , cow ......and so

Answer 9

Religion is a great way to exploit people's fear of the unknown. If you can get to them when they're young enough, you've probably got them for life. But you must forbid questioning and curiosity. And make sure they are angry at anyone who does not believe the same way.

Answer 10

James 1: 26-27
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridle not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Answer 11

any thing the inventor of it says it is.... if I say I have formed my own "religion" then I have. No one can say I have not... it is what I say it is... you can make up any thing you want to and call it a "religion" that is all there is to it...

The True Christian Faith is not a "religion" because it is not man invented.