Religion is man’s relation to God, who cannot be defined.
We all can recognize religion when we see it--we intuitively identify it when it’s genuine--so we don’t need a definition.
The hundreds of definitions of religion
may capture aspects, but not everything.
“Religion is the worship of God and the service of humankind.”
This definition is constructed by generalizing what the definer regards as key features of the religion taken as a paradigm or model (by a believer or critic).
Other religions are recognized by their degree of similarity to the paradigm.
“Religion functions to give meaning to life’s deepest mysteries.”
“True religion is a wholehearted devotion to some reality which the religionist deems to be of supreme value to herself and for all humankind.”
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