Defining RELIGION is more tricky. I once saw a definition that I liked, on a toilet wall. It said "Religion is Man's attempt to communicate with the weather!"
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.So many attempts, none complete, including my own. But putting humor aside for a sec, just to be a killjoy, I guess, I lean toward something approximating:
"A system of doctrinal beliefs, either written or oral, taught to be accepted on faith as fact, with the ostensible aim of providing the individual with assurance and guidance in the face of the unknown, reinforced through rituals, traditions, community pressure and stories aimed at both making the participant feel special for belonging and also afraid to question or abandon the faith. In actuality, religion serves as a mode of psychological social control."
Incidentally, there is absolutely nothing "pure and faultless" about it, no matter what certain apologists may keep asserting ad nauseum. It is by its very nature manipulative, regardless of whatever its missionaries may like to believe.
MikeInBatonRouge
Level 8
Sep 12, 2020
1
@mikein BatonRouge. Not many people would take the trouble to define religion as completely as you. I admire your willingness to dig deep. I would prefer to substitute the words 'Doctrinal beliefs' with the words 'set of conclusions' because they are the same human level as scientific conclusions.[In their terms] .Of course they do not provide evidence for intitial verification of those conclusions or for arguing in favour of changing them like science does. The word doctrinal gives an unjustified impression of veracity.
@Mcflewster interesting. I actually looked up definitions to "doctrine" and "veracity" after reading your comment to make sure I hadn't confused the meaning. Nope, I actually chose the right word in "doctrinal," because it has everything to do with beliefs taught by a formal religious group, and nothing to do with conclusions. The difference is that beliefs are ACCEPTED as true at face value. They do not result necessarily from a logical and fact-based reasoning process. Conclusions, on the other hand, are just that. The result of a reasoning process. Veracity, also, is conforming with real facts. So yes, as I intended to write, religion is defined by doctrinal beliefs, which are to be accepted as unquestioned "gospel" truth by the faithful. ....and doctrine need not have any veracity; in fact it seldom does.
@MikeInBatonRouge Well yes they are ACCEPTED and they are DOCTRINAL but in their terms. Science which is universal is the only way to test veracity . It is their truth process we are disagreeing with but I think You and I are in agreement.
I could write a whole book ( I won't though) about the difficulties caused by definitions.
@Mcflewster Indeed, definitions are tricky. Language itself is chock full of opportunities for misunderstanding. But I have yet to hear anyone ever propose a viable alternative for communicating. The best I think we can do is to define our specific use of given terminology and then prepare ourselves to still have some people land on different pages from ourselves.
When you just absolutly, positively, have to have something to worship, chose religion. You can start with the ground, andwork your way up...and the sky is not the limit. You can have an imaginary friend stand in....insanity is good....just ask trump.
HankSherman
Level 8
Sep 10, 2020
2
How about, religion is mans attempt to rationalize its own ignorance by jumping to conclusions.
AtheistNews
Level 6
Sep 10, 2020
5
For almost 2000 years in text that holds Guinness book of world records for being most copied text of its kind defines Religion... pure and faultless is this: to help widows and orphans in need and avoiding worldly corruption. James 1:27
What I find complicates the definition or the multitude of definitions for religion is where such as illogical atheist define religion in such a way as sarcasm worship to the non-existent flying spaghetti monster sky God.
Word
Level 8
Sep 10, 2020
0
Alan Watts once posed a brilliant thought exercise. He said, imagine you were God. What type of universe would you create, if any? The second part was to describe to ultimate nature of reality of the universe as it is. He said all religion comes out of the second part because of mankind's inability to bring forth the first part.
WilliamCharles
Level 8
Sep 10, 2020
3
i have a very good definition of religions, they are all BULLSHIT!
Mofo1953
Level 9
Sep 10, 2020
1
hence, the toilet
Nothing but!!
Clearly I lack your flair for conciseness. 
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