Religion is a system of beliefs, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, and organizations that relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements.
Religion provides a framework for human interaction, and is the basis of social order. It is the foundation of many cultures, and has played a central role in most societies throughout history.
Definitions of religion vary greatly. A common definition of religion is a religious belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power.
Others define it as a way of life.
Another common definition is a system of rituals, practices, and beliefs that focus on supernatural or metaphysical claims about reality (the cosmos, or the human nature).
This can include specific rituals, prayers, meditation, music and art. It may also focus on a particular divine being, or the highest truths about reality.
The Latin root of the word religion means to bind or unite. It binds millions of people worldwide and has the capacity to affect a great number of lives.
Religious traditions have developed over time as people have sought ways to make sense of the world. They have feared disasters, wild beasts, disease, and death.
They have tried to ascribe meaning to these things by putting faith in some unseen power that moves in mysterious ways to make even the most tragic events bearable.
Religion teaches us true spiritual human character, it helps in times of uncertainty, builds patience in despair and develops moral and social values. Its aim is to transform anxiety into peace, arrogance into humility and envy into compassion.