After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Acts xxvi. 5.
The image of a brute, adorned With gay religions full of pomp and
gold.
Milton.
2. Specifically, conformity in faith and life to the precepts
inculcated in the Bible, respecting the conduct of life and duty toward
God and man; the Christian faith and practice.
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be
maintained without religion.
Washington.
Religion will attend you . . . as a pleasant and useful companion
in every proper place, and every temperate occupation of life.
Buckminster.
3. (R. C. Ch.) A monastic or religious order subject to a regulated
mode of life; the religious state; as, to enter religion. Trench.
A good man was there of religion.
Chaucer.
4. Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as if it were
an enjoined rule of conduct. [R.]
Those parts of pleading which in ancient times might perhaps be
material, but at this time are become only mere styles and forms,
are still continued with much religion.
Sir M. Hale.
Religion, as distinguished from theology, is subjective, designating
the feelings and acts of men which relate to God; while theology is
objective, and denotes those ideas which man entertains respecting the
God whom he worships, especially his systematized views of God. As
distinguished from morality, religion denotes the influences and
motives to human duty which are found in the character and will of God,
while morality describes the duties to man, to which true religion
always influences. As distinguished from piety, religion is a high
sense of moral obligation and spirit of reverence or worship which
affect the heart of man with respect to the Deity, while piety, which
first expressed the feelings of a child toward a parent, is used for
that filial sentiment of veneration and love which we owe to the Father
of all. As distinguished from sanctity, religion is the means by which
sanctity is achieved, sanctity denoting primarily that purity of heart
and life which results from habitual communion with God, and a sense of
his continual presence.
Natural religion, a religion based upon the evidences of a God and his
qualities, which is supplied by natural phenomena. See Natural
theology, under Natural. -- Religion of humanity, a name sometimes
given to a religion founded upon positivism as a philosophical basis.
-- Revealed religion, that which is based upon direct communication of
God's will to mankind; especially, the Christian religion, based on the
revelations recorded in the Old and New Testaments.
Re*li"gion*a*ry (r?-l?j"?n-?-r?), a. Relating to religion; pious; as,
religionary professions. [Obs.]
{ Re*li"gion*a*ry, Re*li"gion*er (-?r), } n. A religionist. [R.]
Re*li"gion*ism (-?z'm), n. 1. The practice of, or devotion to,
religion.