The Definition of Religion

Religion is a term that describes the beliefs and practices of people who believe in God or a divine spirit. There are many different religions, including Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.

A common response to crisis or calamity is to turn to the principles of one’s chosen religion. Sociologists have conducted studies on this and found that people rely heavily on religion in times of adversity.

Definition of Religion

The general definition of religion is the relation of human beings to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine or worthy of especial reverence. It also includes the way people deal with ultimate concerns about their lives and their fate after death.

In most traditions, the relations and concerns are expressed in terms of one’s relationship with or attitude toward gods or spirits; in more humanistic and naturalistic traditions, they are expressed in terms of one’s relationship to or attitudes toward broader human communities or the natural world.

Despite this variety of interpretations, scholars generally agree that religion is a form of valuation that is intensive and comprehensive. As a result, it has the power to discriminate among phenomena. It is, therefore, a useful category for identifying and explaining phenomena in human culture that are based on a value system.