#9: What is Religion?

1. Create a definition of religion.

Religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.

2. How many religions are in the world today?

There are approximately 4,200 religions world wide.

3. How do you think religion is intended to explain the meaning of life?

Many religions contain narratives, symbols, and sacred history used to explain the meaning of life or the origin of life or the Universe. From these beliefs, people derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle.

4. What are some other forms of the word religion?

The practice of a religion may also include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration of a deity, gods or goddesses, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations, funerary services,matrimonial services, meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public service or other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology.

5. According to Emile Durkheim what is the difference between a religion and a private belief?

In the words of Émile Durkheim, religion differs from private belief in that it is "something eminently social". A global 2012 poll reports that 59% of the world's population is religious, and 36% are not religious, including 13% who are atheists, with a 9 percent decrease in religious belief from 2005.