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Definition of religion noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    religion

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//rɪˈlɪdʒən//
     
     
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  1. 1[uncountable] the belief in the existence of a god or gods, and the activities that are connected with the worship of them Is there always a conflict between science and religion?
  2. 2[countable] one of the systems of faith that are based on the belief in the existence of a particular god or gods the Jewish religion Christianity, Islam, and other world religions The law states that everyone has the right to practice their own religion.
  3. 3[singular] a particular interest or influence that is very important in your life For him, football is an absolute religion.
  4. Idioms
    get religion (informal) (disapproving)
     
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    to suddenly become interested in religion
Topic CollocationsReligionbeing religious
  • believe in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnation
  • be/become an agnostic/an atheist/a believer/a Buddhist/Christian/Hindu/Muslim, etc.
  • convert to/practice a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.
  • go to church/temple (= the synagogue)
  • go to the local church/mosque/synagogue
  • belong to a church/a religious community
  • join/enter the Church/a convent/a monastery/the clergy/the priesthood/a religious sect/a cult
  • praise/worship/obey/serve/glorify God
celebrations and ritual
  • attend/hold/conduct/lead a service
  • perform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a bar mitzvah/a bat mitzvah
  • carry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification rite/the last rites
  • go on/make a pilgrimage
  • celebrate Christmas/Diwali/Easter/Eid/Hanukkah/Passover/Ramadan
  • observe/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadan
  • deliver/preach/hear a sermon
  • lead/address the congregation
  • say/recite a prayer/blessing
religious texts and ideas
  • preach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islam/a message
  • study/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddha
  • read/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the Gospel/the Torah
  • be based on/derived from divine revelation
  • commit/consider something heresy/sacrilege
religious belief and experience
  • seek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdom
  • strengthen/lose/question your faith
  • keep/practice/abandon the faith
  • save/purify/lose your soul
  • obey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish law
  • be/accept/do God's will
  • receive/experience divine grace
  • achieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvana
  • undergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnation
  • hear/answer a prayer
  • commit/confess/forgive a sin
  • do/perform penance
See religion in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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