In Latin, it is from “religa” – relinking or reconnecting. “Liga” is like the word ligament, a fibrous, connective tissue that connects bones.
A religion is like a weld. It holds people together in common beliefs, feelings and actions.
Religion consists of:
(1) acknowledgment of a supernatural and higher reality, usually defined as a god or gods,
(2) reverence for objects, places, and times considered sacred, that is, separated from ordinary objects, places, and times,
(3) regularly repeated ritual activities,
(4) conformance to stipulations revealed by the supernatural reality,
(5) communication with the supernatural through prayer and other activity,
(6) feeling awe, fear, mystery, etc.,
(7) integration of items 1–6 into a holistic, though not necessarily systematic, worldview, and
(8) joining a group of like-minded people.
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