Definition of religion

Religion basically can be defined as: "

An explanation of the ultimate meaning
of life, and how to live accordingly."
Normally all religions contain the four "
Cs": Creed, Code, Cult, Community-
structure, and are based on the notion
of the Transcendent. First a few words
recalling how the term religion is
understood here: 
Creed refers to the cognitive aspect of a religion; it is
everything that goes into the "explanation" of the
ultimate meaning of life. 
Code of behavior or ethics includes all the rules and
customs of action that somehow follow from one aspect
or another of the Creed. 
Cult means all the ritual activities that relate the follower
to one aspect or other of the Transcendent, either
directly or indirectly, prayer being an example of the
former and certain formal behavior toward
representatives of the Transcendent, like priests, of the
latter.
Community-structure refers to the relationships among
the followers.
The Transcendent, as the roots of the word indicate,
 Necessity of Religion
The necessity of religion could be proved from
two different ways:
- Inner spiritual thirst of human beings. Without
religion the inner human needs cannot be
satisfied.
- Social and practical need for it: religion gives
human actions a spiritual dimension and is the
main support of moral behavior, justice,
benevolence, and good traits.
- Religion plays yet another role. It gives meaning
and purpose to existence and teaches human
-Religion is a powerful, pervasive, visible, and
sometimes enigmatic component of human
societies.
-Manifestations of religion are evident all
around us and at all times.
-People encounter and experience religion
virtually every day through religious leaders,
ceremonies, festivals, and places of worship.
-Legal, moral, and ethical codes of conduct are
rooted in religious traditions that inform most
 Abrahamic
•The three major religions religions
we will examine are Judaism,
Christianity and Islam. We can identify organic links among
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
•Followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—the great
Monotheistic religions—all trace themselves to the common
patriarch, Abraham.
• Major religions share many key structural components.
•1.Particularly gifted individuals, such as Moses, Jesus, and
Muhammad, are recognized as foundational figures in the
development of religions.
•2.Sacred texts record and preserve teachings in most religions.
•3.Religious people practice both repetitive and one-time rituals in
remarkably similar ways across various religious traditions.
•4.Disagreements over orthodox teaching and/or practices lead to
significant divisions within religious communities, as we see
among Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians; Sunni and
A comparative approach to the study of
religion has important limitations.
The assumption that Jesus and Muhammad
are “founders” and function in similar ways or
that the Bible and the Qur’an are sacred
scriptures that function in the same way in
Christianity and Islam, respectively, can be
misleading.
2. Divisions within communities (for example,
Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians;
Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims) may be traced to
internal disagreements, but they cannot be
 Thank you for your kind
attention
Qorban Elmi: University of
Tehran