what is religion?

Answer 1

I really wish people would do their own research.

re‧li‧gion 
1.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.
2.a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3.the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4.the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5.the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6.something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7.religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8.Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.

Answer 2

There are many definitions of religion, and most have struggled to avoid an overly sharp definition on the one hand, and meaningless generalities on the other. Some have tried to use formalistic, doctrinal definitions and others have tried to use experiential, emotive, intuitive, valuational and ethical factors.

Sociologists and anthropologists see religion as an abstract set of ideas, values, or experiences developed as part of a cultural matrix. Primitive religion was indistinguishable from the sociocultural acts where custom and ritual defined an emotional reality.

Other religious scholars have put forward a definition of religion that avoids the reductionism of the various sociological and psychological disciplines that relegate religion to its component factors. Religion may be defined as the presence of a belief in the sacred or the holy. For example Rudolf Otto's "The Idea of the Holy," formulated in 1917, defines the essence of religious awareness as awe, a unique blend of fear and fascination before the divine. Friedrich Schleiermacher in the late 18th century defined religion as a "feeling of absolute dependence."

The Encyclopedia of Religion describes religion in the following way:

"In summary, it may be said that almost every known culture involves the religious in the above sense of a depth dimension in cultural experiences at all levels — a push, whether ill-defined or conscious, toward some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that will provide norms and power for the rest of life. When more or less distinct patterns of behaviour are built around this depth dimension in a culture, this structure constitutes religion in its historically recognizable form. Religion is the organization of life around the depth dimensions of experience — varied in form, completeness, and clarity in accordance with the environing culture."
(Winston King, Encyclopedia of Religion, p 7693)

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

The Little Oxford Dictionary defines religion as the belief in super human controlling power. The root word of 'religion' is relegere, which means to go back to the source. So religion is going back to our source, or in other words to live in harmony with our source/nature.

The mystics term our source/true nature as our soul which is hidden in every individual. So religion was termed by many mystics as the dicovery of our soul.

But i believe true religion is to live our life, explore it & enjoy every moment without judgement.

the mystic Osho once said 'life is not a problem to be solved, it is a mystery to be lived'.
So take life not as a problem, consider it as a mystery and true religion will spread your wings in your heart.

Answer 4

religion is the spiritual center of a human being, but because of modernization, religion became what most folks here stereotype and mock about. religion, honestly, also became a basis of racial violence and terrorism evethough at the deeper side, religion is meant to spread the word of God/Allah/Yehovah in love and world peace. because we are just humans and we sometimes make mistakes, religion is misinterpreted. if not for religion, we would never learn what is the purpose of our life. religion is where we learn THE TRUE MEANING OF LOVE.

Answer 5

Educators who teach about religion immediately face the problem of defining the subject. Is a "religion" to be regarded as another form of human thought or opinion covered by guarantees of freedom, as is speech, assembly, press and so on? Or, does religion always imply supernaturalism?

There are further questions. Should the definition simply refer to those who feel that they are in a particular relationship to God (however defined) with an obligation to fulfill divinely revealed law? For example, Judaism is always listed as a "religion," but what about Humanistic Judaism,[1] which focuses on persons and humanity without reference to a deity? In addition, many Secular Humanists [2] tend to eschew the term "religion" because, in its popular interpretation, it carries with it overtones of a supernaturalism that they reject.

What does the word "religion" mean, and what is religion and what is nonreligion?

A Starting Place
The root of the word "religion" is usually traced to the Latin religare (re: back, and ligare: to bind), so that the term is associated with "being bound." The idea may reflect a concept prominent in biblical literature. Israel was said to be in a "covenant" (berith) relationship with its God (Yahweh). In a sense, the nation was "covenanted" or "bonded" to the deity. But what does being bound or bonded mean? Is a slave who is bound or bonded to his or her master in a "religious" relationship? Is a business agreement which binds partners in a legal covenant a form of "religious" binding? At one time in human history, such "bindings" may have had religious sanction, but today, in America, slavery is outlawed and business contracts are made in legal settings. This particular notion of religion as "binding" doesn't really fit and therefore this interpretation of the root meaning of the term proves not to be particularly helpful.

On the other hand, one might argue that the religious person is one "bound" by choice or by commitment to the tenets of a particular faith system. Once again, the parameters of this definition can be broadened to include any commitment to a particular way of life. Such an expansion would embrace concepts like "philosophy" or "psychology" or even any chosen way of living. One's religion then becomes "how one lives one's life" or "how one lives in the light of a particular commitment" or, in popular vernacular, one's "life style." Obviously, while the term "commitment" may provide some insight into the concept of "being bound," it is far too inclusive to be acceptable.

Answer 6

Religion is a group of beliefs that people who are following agree on to be true.

Answer 7

Religion is neither war nor blood sheding it is peace and fraternity among the human beings.the right way to live life and the best way u choose it as ur religion.religion is somewat ur heart says its true and the things which ur heart says wrong is wrong like the first time a sinner is going to do sin but his heart says wrong.Allah has given a sense to human to choose their paths right or wrong.
moreover there is no aggression in religion.

Answer 8

A belief system developed by man to explain their rules and/or beliefs concerning a higher power.
Incidently, in this forum we must remember that not all religions are Christians. There seems to be a magic formula that states somewhere that religion=Christian, which is so not so.
Religion is ANY belief system that shows you a standard of mores and laws by which to live by....

Answer 9

Religion originated by people who wanted to give an explanation to what they saw around them. As society developed into chiefdom's and small kingdoms, religious rites began to serve different functions. Agriculture became important and so fertility gods were introduced (often female, as it is the woman who has the power to produce life). The status of the "big man" (or chief) was supported with mythic tales of heroes and demigods, whom he may be descended from.

When these small kingdoms merged into larger groups (often through conquest), different cults merged. The conquest of one group by another is therefore recorded in an epic tale of the conquest of the conquered group's god by the victor's (e.g. some Hinduism and the Babylonian Marduk). Another solution was to synchronize different religious traditions, for example, the Romans' identification of their Gods with the Greeks and the Greeks' adoption of Anatolian myths and characters.


Nevertheless, it is still widely held that ethical monotheism (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, some forms of Hinduism and Buddhism) was encouraged by the growth of city states. This was partly due to the role of a hierarchical society with a god-like absolute ruler

Answer 10

Religion is using a myth to explain what you don't understand.
Early humans understood that weather, water, lightening storms, earthquakes, volcanos, animals ect. all had an effect on their lives, but did not know where they came from or where humanoids came from. They gradually builded up reasons fo reverything explaine din simpler terms as gods first. (gods for everthing) than later it became god(one god).

From there religon became the main focus point in most peoples lives. The main reason why is that they already knew their present situation, it was their future which scared them.