What is religion?

Since ancient times people have tried to explainfrightening or unusual phenomena of nature by the formation of supernatural forces. The concept of "religion" was formed relatively recently, and religion itself was formed very long ago.

The concept of what religion is

Religion (from the Latin. religio - sacredness, piety) - a form of social consciousness, a set of spiritual opinions that are based on belief in supernatural beings and forces (gods and spirits) that are considered an object of worship. This means that the term "religion" is the worship of the gods. It is related to the concepts of "faith" and "God."

At the dawn of humanity, people were able to explainflood and drought, sunrise and sunset, lightning and thunder by the actions of evil and good gods. There were "special" people, namely shamans, who can communicate with the other world (with spirits and gods of ancestors). Their task was to appease the gods and predict fruitless and productive years, natural disasters or wars. All phenomena corresponded to their deity (the god of war, the sun god, the god of thunder, etc.).

Types of religions

There is an opinion about 3 world, that is the mostnumerous religions - this is Christianity, Buddhism and Islam. But from the very definition of the term religion, this is not very correct. Buddhism is very numerous, but it is not considered a religion. Buddhism, as well as Hinduism, Taoism, Shinto is considered a doctrine, a belief in the power of nature, and not of a specific god. And Christianity, which was originally a doctrine, became a religion. Representatives of monotheistic modern religions include: Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism and Islam. Recently, such phenomenon as "neopaganism" has been formed. This current is rapidly spreading both in Europe and in Russia. Many are interested in the question of what unites religions, they are united by the similarity of values. Everywhere it is forbidden to kill, steal and rape.