How does one define religion?

Answer 1

"We are all part of the One Spirit. When you experience the true meaning of religion, which is to know God, you will realize that He is your Self, and that He exists equally and impartially in all beings."

–Paramahansa Yogananda

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/aboutsrf/index.html

Answer 2

Religion is what binds people together, (ligion=ligaments) and keeps them together.

This bond enables them to survive and prosper over those who do not share such a common bond.

The Jews are of course the western world's most powerful example of this principle.

Christianity developed because Judaism could no longer grow - either with more people or with more ideas.

There is a divine aspect as well, a belief in a Deity or Deities, and a shared perception of your place in that Deities' eyes.

Answer 3

An important clue is in the derivation of the word religion:

[Origin: 1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion) < L religiōn- (s. of religiō) conscientiousness, piety, equiv. to relig(āre) to tie, fasten (re- re- + ligāre to bind, tie; cf. ligament) + -iōn- -ion; cf. rely]

A religion is an attempt to "bind" or "tie" ourselves back to God. Thus, any religion recognizes that humans are separate and cut off from the Creator. Christians recognize that the original humans walked with God and knew him intimately. They were God's close friends and companions, and God planned that they live forever with him. Yet these first humans quickly succumbed to the temptation to reject God's teachings and break off the intimate relationship.

Though there are many religions, the best of them (Judaism and Christianity) rely on the revelations of authentic prophets who bring God's teachings to humanity. We know a prophet speaks for God when a) his words are consistent with God's other teachings and b) the prophet lives up to a very high standard of personal holiness.

The ultimate prophet was Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. He came to fully express God's revelation, correcting the misunderstandings and human traditions of Judaism. Too, he was a man without sin, sacrificing his life rather than rescinding a single syllable of God's truth.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 4

I define religion as a group of people that are brought together by common beliefs. Religion is not faith or spirituality - they are separate. Most religions expect you to have faith in their beliefs, and spirituality is how you connect with your God. Religion is a human creation, where as faith and spirituality come from God. Religion is bonding with other believers. Faith/spirituality is bonding with God.

Answer 5

The church fathers decided early-on that religion was derived from the word religere, to bind do. Their interest was in binding the congregation to the declaration of faith in the form of the Apostle's Creed.

A classical derivation of the word is from religio, meaning to attend to the numinous, i.e., that motivating spirit which animates one, moves one to act.

From these two I derive my personal notion of religion as the practice of "binding" myself to high ideals, which I strive to achieve, or live up to. (Worship, derived from the words "worth" in the sense of value, and "shape" to me means to shape one's self, and one's behavior to an ideal.) In regards to the second meaning, paying attention to the numinous, I try to attend closely to my motivations. This requires introspection, and truthfulness.

I do not find much of what I'd call religion in ritual and magical rites aimed at sucking up to some big nobodaddy chief puppeteer in the sky. This marvelous, complex and wonder-filled universe is not the product of such a childish notion.

Good on ya!

Answer 6

Religion by definition is a Relation. A Relation between humans beings and the "Creator".

Gob Bless you

Answer 7

it is a place to define peace quite and tranquil actions. you can beel safe and be happy there. its where you learn about your Lord and God. How he did things in the very beginning and start ou like a boy like others and normal. it shows how he gave his only son, Jesus to forgive sins. this is all symbolism but it in truth what he did. they do alot of symbolisms in teh bible that i s why they tell regualr lay people not totry and decipher this. the peole who study this can help undertand if you ask. its for a standard and feeling of pure happiness.

Answer 8

One definition is to do something over and over again, to do something religiously. Another is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny. Finally, that it is an institution to express belief in a divine power.
Peace

Answer 9

When we consider the differences between the religions of the world, it becomes obvious these difference exist because they teach different doctrines. But why? (We are creatures that seem to need answers, though we are good at ignoring them, too). The first thing that we tend to look at is God; and we are forced into one of three conclusions in that regard. Either there is no God, so there is no absolute standard of right and wrong (and so it doesn't matter what anyone believes); or there is a God, but either it doesn't matter to Him who believes what, or He hasn't indicated what He wants (and so it still doesn't matter what anyone believes); or there is a God, there is an absolute standard which has been announced, and it does matter to Him what people believe.

If the third alternative is true, then obviously people are not following this same “absolute” standard (otherwise they would all be teaching “absolutely” the same thing!). Why not? At this point, the curiosity of many tends to wane. Most people wonder about this conclusion, but few pursue it to where it leads, feeling comfortable with their own beliefs and traditions, fearing that a further search might lead to the abandonment of those beliefs and traditions. The fear is justifiable, but the abandonment of the search is not. If one's beliefs are not in accordance with God's standard, then they must be abandoned in favor of His will.

The continuation of our quest leads to three more possibilities. Either God's standard has not been clearly announced (is it the Bible? The Koran? The Book of Mormon?), or if it has, it can not be clearly understood. In either of those cases, we are back to square two (and again, many are content to return there). The third and final conclusion: God's standard is both understandable and absolute, but people do not seek it out, nor care to adhere to it when they find it.

The focus of this standard always goes back to one book: the Bible. There is good reason for this. The Bible is the oldest of the religious books that presents only one God, whose standard is absolute. The flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the numerous destructions at God's hands which are written about in the Bible are testimonies of its teaching concerning God's standard of right and wrong, and the terrible consequences for man and society when these standards are continually violated. God's grace and patience are also revealed in that Book, but they are conditional upon acceptance of one man as Lord and Savior. Even a casual reading of the New Testament shows that one does not have to be a theologian to figure out that Jesus accepted no compromise with regard to the truth. Consider some of His words:

Of Himself, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).

Of judgment He said, “Unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

Of truth and salvation, Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; Seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7), and yet five verses later He says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Matt. 7:13–14). One can only conclude that while truth is accessible, it must be sought after, and few care to seek.

It is small wonder that the Bible is constantly being challenged and attacked. When a religion depends upon traditions and “continuing revelations,” that religion is constantly changing. There is no absolute. But a document that is written and preserved intact is unchangeable. The only thing one can do with the Bible is believe it as it is, deny it to be of divine origin, or deny its relevance any time beyond the date it was written, or at least when it was “standardized” (325 A.D.).

The Catholic church, the Protestant denominations, the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses—all philosophies and religions not based solely upon an absolute standard are destined to change as society changes. One might argue that such change is good, healthy and necessary, but that's exactly the issue, isn't it? Does morality change? If adultery was wrong in the first century, why is it right in the twentieth? Do the conditions of salvation change? If one had to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ in the first century in order to be saved (2nd Thess. 1:7–8), why is it not necessary in our time? Is the Bible an absolute standard or not?

Answer 10

A method of recognizing your Higher Power. For Christians, that can include worship services, prayer, meditation, praise and for some, dance.