| According to the online etymology dictionary, religion, | | | | of citizenry, acting as the shared bond that |
| in its modern sense, is the "recognition of, obedience | | | | transcends the gaps among generations and |
| to, and worship of a higher, unseen power." | | | | ideologies. Contemporary interaction in the existing |
| Numerous studies over the centuries have supported | | | | socio-cultural arenas is based on religion understanding |
| that religion is a human phenomenon of interaction | | | | and the frequent exchange of everyday life |
| and spiritual exchange based on a group of beliefs or | | | | experiences. |
| attitudes concerning a real or imagined object or | | | | With three main models in the development of |
| person. In particular, religion is a system of thought | | | | religion, scholars have attempted to examine its |
| considered to have a supernatural, sacred, or divine | | | | tremendous effects in their effort to understand its |
| character, which is based on a set of moral codes, | | | | significance. Specifically, religion has been examined as |
| practices, institutions, values, and rituals, associated | | | | a social construction mechanism, as a progressive |
| with the specific beliefs examined. | | | | attempt to understand the underlying truth, or as the |
| Also referred to as "faith" or "system of beliefs," | | | | absolute true meaning portrayed in life. The first |
| religion is usually defined as an agreed set of rules | | | | group of models concentrates on the positive |
| illustrated by a set of commonly exercised practices. | | | | effects of religion on society, the individual and |
| These practices are carried out by humans in their | | | | civilization in general. On the other hand, models that |
| effort to understand the natural forces that govern | | | | examine religion as the progressive true meaning in |
| their lives and accept the biggest change of them all; | | | | life focus on the aspect of truth and concentrate on |
| that of death. In fear of the unknown, humans have | | | | the quest of understanding what reality is through |
| been able to confront the never-ending change in life | | | | time Finally, the models that see religion as the |
| and interact with each other by creating a particular | | | | absolutely and unchangingly "True" contradict the first |
| set of beliefs and practicing rituals that do represent | | | | two models, which regard religion to be false or to |
| their commonly agreed principles. | | | | develop through time, viewing a particular religion as |
| Although one can find a variety of definitions existing | | | | the absolute true meaning in all. |
| for religion, many have struggled to avoid using one | | | | Whether one comes from a religious background or |
| that would exclude its true essence or would be | | | | considers religion to play a vital role in modern life |
| considered as a meaningless generality. | | | | affecting and interacting with conscious or |
| Anthropologists and sociologists tend to examine | | | | unconscious choices, the fact still remains that religion, |
| religion as an abstract set of ideas, values, and | | | | regardless of the model one examines, is one of the |
| experiences, developed as part of a cultural network. | | | | most important characteristics found in today's |
| Through these human religious-based networks, | | | | cultures. Religion has a tremendous impact on |
| cultural practices and rituals have evolved, | | | | effective communication principles as it intervenes |
| transforming not only the individuals who perform | | | | with one's understanding of others. Thus, opening up |
| them, but in most cases, the nations where these | | | | to religious influences and comprehending its effects |
| specific religions are practiced. Today, in every | | | | is imperative for anyone who wishes to examine the |
| country of the world, religion is a crucial cultural factor | | | | religious spectrum of contemporary cultures. |