religia

Religion, or religia in some languages, is a system of beliefs, practices, and symbols oriented toward the sacred or transcendent. It seeks to answer questions about existence, meaning, and morality, and it often provides a framework for rituals, ethical norms, and community life. Religious groups can influence art, law, education, and social behavior, and they commonly organize around places of worship, sacred texts, and clergy or lay leadership.

The term religio derives from Latin and is commonly understood as binding or obligation, reflecting the sense in which adherents join communities and observe rites. Across cultures, religions may center on one or more deities, on spiritual forces, or on non-theistic worldviews, and they vary in how they conceptualize the divine, the afterlife, and salvation or liberation.

Religions differ in structure and practice. Some are highly organized with formal creeds and institutions, while others are decentralized or indigenous. Classifications include monotheistic, polytheistic, pantheistic, and non-theistic traditions, as well as new religious movements and folk beliefs.

Scholarly study of religion encompasses theology, religious studies, anthropology, sociology, and history. Scholars explore belief systems in their cultural contexts, focusing on interpretation, variation, and change rather than endorsement.

In contemporary societies, religion interacts with politics, education, media, and law. Issues such as religious freedom, secularism, pluralism, and interfaith dialogue shape public life and policy, while globalization and digital communication expand the reach and visibility of religious movements.