\Re*li"gion\ (r[-e]*l[i^]j"[u^]n), n. [F., from L.
religio; cf. religens pious, revering the gods, Gr. 'ale`gein
to heed, have a care. Cf. {Neglect}.]
1. The outward act or form by which men indicate their
   recognition of the existence of a god or of gods having
   power over their destiny, to whom obedience, service, and
   honor are due; the feeling or expression of human love,
   fear, or awe of some superhuman and overruling power,
   whether by profession of belief, by observance of rites
   and ceremonies, or by the conduct of life; a system of
   faith and worship; a manifestation of piety; as, ethical
   religions; monotheistic religions; natural religion;
   revealed religion; the religion of the Jews; the religion
   of idol worshipers.
         An orderly life so far as others are able to observe
         us is now and then produced by prudential motives or
         by dint of habit; but without seriousness there can
         be no religious principle at the bottom, no course
         of conduct from religious motives; in a word, there
         can be no religion.                   --Paley.
         Religion [was] not, as too often now, used as
         equivalent for godliness; but . . . it expressed the
         outer form and embodiment which the inward spirit of
         a true or a false devotion assumed.   --Trench.
         Religions, by which are meant the modes of divine
         worship proper to different tribes, nations, or
         communities, and based on the belief held in common
         by the members of them severally. . . . There is no
         living religion without something like a doctrine.
         On the other hand, a doctrine, however elaborate,
         does not constitute a religion.       --C. P. Tiele
                                               (Encyc.
                                               Brit.).
         Religion . . . means the conscious relation between
         man and God, and the expression of that relation in
         human conduct.                        --J.
                                               K["o]stlin
                                               (Schaff-Herzog
                                               Encyc.)
         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.
Note: 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.