Meaning of Religion

• The Latin word "RELIGARE" means "to bind fast," "rely on someone," or "place an obligation on," or "bond between humans and gods."
• Religio refers to The Religion's legal or valid manner of relating to or worshipping God.
• Superstitio refers to acts of doing exaggerated or scandalous rituals, or being abused by charlatans.
• In the Middle Ages, the word Religion acquired a new context, referring to One's disciplines or rules in piety or devotions, including the strict rule of life associated with monastic vows.
• God has placed a longing in our hearts to seek and find him, as said in Youth Catechism (YouCat).
• St. Augustine says, "You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you," referring to this longing for God as Religion.
• St. Edith Stein states it is natural for man to seek God, with all striving for truth and happiness ultimately searching for the one who supports and satisfies us absolutely and completely employs us in his service.
• A person is not complete until they find God, and seeking truth is seeking God, realized or not.
• Religion can generally mean a relationship to the Divine.
• A religious person acknowledges a divine power that created them-self and the world, to which they are dependent and ordered.
• They want to please and honor the Divinity through their life.
• The highest goal of reason is the knowledge of God, according to St. Albert the Great.
• They should seek God with the hope of finding "him," recognizing "In him we live and move and have our "being" (Acts 17:27 28a).
• Being Christian is the encounter with an event or person, giving life a new horizon and direction, which is not just an ethical choice or lofty idea, according to Deus Caritas Est, 2005.
• Religion unites beliefs and practices related to sacred things into a moral community called a Church, uniting all those who adhere, according to Durkheim, E. 1982, p. 129.
• Religion provides meaning, authority, and reinforces morals and social norms within society, according to Durkheim, E. 1982, p. 129.

Religious Experience

• Religions commonly separate different aspects of life, physical things, and behaviors into The Sacred (spiritual or religious objects and behaviors), and The Profane, or everything else without religious function or meaning.

The Experience of Being Called to God

• Experiencing God includes "Come and you will See” (John 1:39), "Come Follow Me", "Remain in my love", "Give up All": (see Matthew 19:21, "Go and Make Disciples" (Matthew 28:19).
• Common experiences include Experiencing God through the world, Praying, Seeing the Divine thru faith, Deep Friendship, and Struggles towards Personal Transformation.
• At the Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John experienced Jesus' Divinity; then Peter said, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents* here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Spirituality

• Spirituality is a Deepening Friendship with God, characterized by Intimacy and Fidelity with the God who has Loved as First. (Br. Mike Valenzuela FSC)
• In Catholic Theology, Spirituality is understood as a fruit of Religion.
• Personal relationship with God transforms lifestyles into a life lived in the Holy Spirit of God.

The Human Person Composed of Body & Soul.

• The Body is Physical, which promotes health and wellbeing.
• The Soul is Spiritual, which nurtures the wellness of the soul.

Integrated Spirituality

• The goal is to have Integrated, or Lived, Spirituality.
• Christian Spirituality is Theology in action, a lived experience applying Christian faith to guide individuals toward spiritual growth and increased insight and joy.
• Living spirituality, animated by the Holy Spirit, brings the Gospel to the world, as stated in Matthew 4:18 19.

Religions, Founders, and Key Details

• Baha'i, founded by The Bab/Baha'u'llah in Persia/Iran in 1844, is monotheistic with doctrines of Covenant, Social Principles, Human Being, God, and Religion, with their sacred text Kitab-i Aqdas and the name of God as Baha (glory), symbolized by a 9 Pointed Star.
• Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama ("The Buddha") in the 5th century BCE in India, is non-theistic, centered on the Four Noble Truths (Dukha, Trishna, Nirvana, and the eightfold path), the Five Precepts, Karma, and Reincarnation symbolized by The Buddha, Lotus flower, Endless knot, Conch shell, and Dharma wheel.
• Christianity, founded by Jesus of Nazareth in Judea in the 1st century, is monotheistic with the Blessed Trinity and doctrines of The Trinity, The Person of Jesus Christ, The Second coming, Salvation, and The scripture, symbolized by the Crucifix, ICHTHYS, Dove, Flame, and Candle.
• Confucianism, founded by Kong Fuzi/Master Kong aka Confucius in China in the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, is non-theistic with a book: Analects, Jen/Ren means benevolence. Symbolized by Confucius, Scholar, Yin Yang, and Water.
• Hinduism, with no known founder, originates from India between 2300 BC - 1500 BC, is henotheistic with gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, sacred texts The Vedas, and beliefs in Karma and Reincarnation, symbolized by Aum/Om and Swastika.
• Islam, founded by Muhammad/Mohammed in the 7th century in Saudi Arabia, is monotheistic, with Allah as the name of God, the sacred text Qur'an, practice Ramadan, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Hajj, and worship in a Mosque, symbolized by the Star and Crescent Moon.
• Jainism, founded by the 1st Tirthankara Rishabhanatha or Rishabhdeva in India, 7th to 5th centuries BCE, is non-theistic with sacred text: Agams or Agam Sutras and doctrines like Anekantavada, Syadavada, Nayavada, Triratna and Pancha Mahavrata, symbolized by Ahimsa and the hand with a wheel on the palm.
• Judaism, founded by Abraham around the 18th-20th century BCE in Jerusalem, is monotheistic with Yahweh as God, the Tanakh as the main text including the Torah, Nevim, and Ketuvim, plus 10 Commandments, and key figures like Abraham, Moses, and Elijah. Symbolized by the Star of David and Menorah.
• Shintoism has no founder, originated in Japan in the 6th century AD, is polytheistic with Kami, emphasizes purity, harmony, respect for nature, family respect, and subordination, and worships "kami" deity or god. Symbolized by Torii Gate and Tomoe.
• Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the Punjab Region of India in the 15th century CE, is monotheistic, recognizing Waheguru as God; with the Guru Granth Sahib as their sacred text, symbolized by Khanda and Ik Onkar.
• Taoism, founded by Laozi or Lao Tzu in China around 500 BCE, is polytheistic, with supreme gods called San Ching (Three Pure Ones) and Jade Emperor; The Tao Te Ching Is the most important text, and emphasizes acting as Wu-Wei and harmony; Symbolized by Yin Yang, and Pa-Kua/Ba Gua.
• Zoroastrianism, founded by Zarathustra in Persia/Iran in the 6th century BCE, is monotheistic, recognizing Ahura Mazda as God and Angra Mainyu as Evil; their sacred text is the Avesta; The symbol is Faravahar.