Definitions of Religion

A religion is a set of spiritual beliefs about two key aspects of life: concern with the ultimate meaning of human existence; and an identification with a supernatural power beyond the limits of the human and natural worlds.

The many different religions have different beliefs about these two aspects of life. However, religions generally have the following characteristics in common:

• A belief in supernatural beings, or gods;
• A code of morality believed to be sanctioned by the gods;
• Ceremonial and ritual acts which focus on sacred objects and symbols;
• Communication, notably through prayer, with the supernatural;
• Particular religious feelings, such as a sense of mystery, awe, adoration and reverence, that tend to be aroused in the presence of sacred objects or symbols, and during ceremonies and rituals associated with the supernatural;
• A particular world view, or a general understanding of the world and the individual’s place in the universe, that shapes the religion’s overall organisation and style of life; and
• A social group expressing the above features with and to which the individual identifies and contributes.

Source: Adapted from Bell, R. and Hall, R. (1991) Impacts: Contemporary Issues and Global Problems, Jacaranda Press, Brisbane.