The Definition of Religion

When looking at the definition of religion many people immediately think of organized religion as a set of practices and beliefs. The most common examples of religion in this regard are those found in the Abrahamic faiths, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism. These religions emphasize beliefs and practices that originate from a central holy book, which are passed down from the early times to this day. Other examples of religion can be found in the Forms of religion that are practiced in contemporary cultures around the world such as Polynesian spirituality, Eastern mysticism, Native American spirituality, and so on.

Although religion has many definitions, none can satisfactorily describe the totality of religious life. The definition of religion should be used to provide a general framework through which to understand religious ideas and their role in contemporary life. In order to make religion sufficiently specific, three elements need to be taken into account:

For clarification, the three elements are: belief, practice, and importance. By fitting these into a definition of religion, we can then ask what the most important element of religion is for Christians. Most would agree that belief is the most important element, since it serves as the basis of religion. Practice is next, since it is how religious ideas and practices are put into action. And lastly, importance is defined by what particular value religion provides to its adherents.