religion Hear it!

religion Definition

re·li·gion (ri lij′ən)

noun

    1. belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe
    2. expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual
    1. any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc.
    2. any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system humanism as a religion
  3. the state or way of life of a person in a monastery, convent, etc.
  4. any object of conscientious regard and pursuit

Etymology: ME religioun < OFr or L: OFr religion < L religio, reverence for the gods, holiness, in LL(Ec), a system of religious belief < ? religare, to bind back < re-, back + ligare, to bind, bind together; or < ? re- + IE base *leĝ-, to collect > logic, Gr legein, L legere

religion Idioms

get religion

☆ Informal
  1. to become religious
  2. to become very conscientious or earnest about something

religion Synonyms

religion

n.

  1. Belief in or relationship to a superior being or beings

    belief, faith, creed, devotion, piety, spirituality, persuasion, godliness, morality, religiosity, theology, faithfulness, devoutness, myth, superstition, supernaturalism, doctrine, confession, cult, mythology, communion, religious conscience, fidelity, spiritual-mindedness, religious bent, ethical standard; see also faith 2.

  2. Organized worship or service of a deity

    veneration, adoration, consecration, sanctification, prayer, ritual, rites, liturgy, ceremonial, holy sacrifice, incantation, holiday, observance, pietism, orthodoxy, reformism; see also ceremony 2.

  3. A specific system of belief and worship

    faith, denomination, sect; see church 3, faith 2. see also church 3.

    Religions include: Christianity, Mormonism, Christian Science, Zen Buddhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Sunni Islam, Sunnite Islam, Shi`a Islam, Shiite Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Theosophy, Zoroastrianism, Shintoism, Taoism, Bahai, Gnosticism, deism, theism, polytheism, dualism;

get religion*

be converted, believe, change, be born again; see reform 3.

religion Usage Examples

Preposition: of

antiquity: Davies, J. ( 1999 ), Death, Burial and Rebirth in the Religions of Antiquity ( London: Routledge ).

Converse of object

  • organize: Remember Max organized religion creates a lot more problems than it solves.
  • practice: Those who practice a religion are able to meet friends and take part in social gatherings without alcohol.
  • criticize: Incidentally, the program did not criticize religion or religious people.
  • found: J Jains Followers of Jainism, which is a religion founded in India in the 6th century BC.
  • reveal: Among these religions, the revealed religion of Muhammad is like the light of the sun among the lights of the stars.

Adjective modifier

  • monotheistic: Yet in spite of this, all of the great monotheistic religions teach that man was created in God's image.
  • organized: Defaming organized religion openly in public is now a crime?
  • patriarchal: For believers in the patriarchal religions, liberty is simply the freedom to practice the accepted religion.
  • comparative: This has, in recent decades, become comparative religion.
  • Protestant: The two major religions in Elizabethan England were the Catholic and Protestant religions.

Modifies a noun

thread: Debs Hallsworth ( debsuk ) Mon, 29 May 2006 Religion Thread I can't because of who I am.

Noun used with modifier

  • pagan: As long he didn't try to argue that the Hebrew Scriptures were the truth and the pagan religions were not.
  • mystery: But I would like to take you up on the notion of a mystery religion.
  • Buddhist: It is important to the Buddhist religion as it is carved to represent the stages of Buddhist life.
  • testament: Regards, Rob -------------------- " In the New Testament religion is grace and ethics is gratitude.