Religion, What Is It?

The Meaning of the Word “Religion” The etymology (historically verifiable source) of the word religion is very revealing. It is related to the Latin word legare, which means to bind or connect. The English word ligament, which comes from the same root, means connection.

The Meaning of the Word “Religion” Religion, then, refers somehow to the process of rebinding or reconnecting. An assumption is that unconnecting must have happened, and that as a consequence, reconnecting is necessary. The universality of religion suggests that the need to repair some kind of basic brokenness is present among all people. Religion involves people striving for a sense of wholeness or completeness.

Religion, What Is It? Religion is the response of humans to the mystery of life’s meaning. The dictionary defines religion as: the belief in a superhuman controlling power, especially in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship.

What Mysteries Are Examined By Religion? Who am I? Why am I here? How did we come to be? Do our lives have meaning? Who is God? What is right and wrong? Is there an afterlife? How do I fit in? What do I believe? How do I relate to others?

Why Study Religion? To examine the big questions of life. To understand that religion is at the core of human experience. To know what your personal religious beliefs are. To recognize the value of religion to a full life.

Why Study Religion? To understand the relationship between faith and culture. To identify the values that contribute to the moral decisions that we make. To develop a more spiritual perspective on life. To understand the meaning and value of human freedom.

Thomas Merton "A superficial freedom to wander aimlessly here or there, to taste this or that, to make a choice of distractions … is simply a sham. It claims to be a freedom of 'choice' when it has evaded the basic task of discovering who it is that chooses."