I
Relation of human beings to God or the gods or to whatever they consider sacred or, in some cases, merely supernatural.
Archaeological evidence suggests that religious beliefs have existed since the first human communities. They are generally shared by a community, and they express the communal culture and values through myth, doctrine, and ritual. Worship is probably the most basic element of religion, but moral conduct, right belief, and participation in religious institutions also constitute elements of the religious life. Religions attempt to answer basic questions intrinsic to the human condition (Why do we suffer? Why is there evil in the world? What happens to us when we die?) through the relationship to the sacred or supernatural or (e.g., in the case of Buddhism ) through perception of the true nature of reality. Broadly speaking, some religions (e.g., Judaism , Christianity , and Islam ) are outwardly focused, and others (e.g., Jainism , Buddhism) are inwardly focused.
II
[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
Australian religion
Baltic religion
Celtic religion
civil religion
Egyptian religion
Etruscan religion
Finno Ugric religion
Germanic religion
Greek religion
mystery religion
prehistoric religion
religion philosophy of
Religion Wars of
Roman religion
Slavic religion
Vedic religion
Religion of the Heavenly Way
African religions
Afro Caribbean Afro Brazilian and Afro American religions
American Indian religions North
American Indian religions South
Arabian religions ancient
{{link=Iranian religions">Iranian religions
Mesoamerican religions
Mesopotamian religions
Oceanic religions