Religion is a term that refers to a set of beliefs and practices that people hold in common. It is generally characterized by the way it addresses human life and its ultimate concerns, including those about the afterlife and the natural world. It usually involves worship and adherence to moral standards, as well as a belief in a higher power and participation in a community of like-minded believers.
The word “religion” comes from the Latin re-legere, meaning to rearrange (literally to put back into place). It was originally used by Christians to refer to a group of doctrines or teachings that were held in common among various Christian denominations. It has since become the name for a wide range of beliefs, practices, and communities.
In one interpretation, Adam and Eve’s rejection of God’s clear revelation of himself as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe in favor of a lie is viewed as the origin of religion. The biblical story describes how this idolatry had disastrous consequences, not just for Adam and Eve but also for their descendants.
Some scholars have criticized the idea that there is such a thing as religion. They argue that, in order for something to be called a religion it must satisfy certain substantive definitions. They further argue that, for example, Christianity or capitalism cannot be considered to be a religion because they do not address human spiritual needs. Others, such as Talal Asad, take a Foucauldian approach to the concept of religion and seek to identify assumptions baked into the concept that have obscured its grasp on historical reality.