religion is at the center of this debate over explicit protections for LGBT people.
But think more deeply: Congress could make all kinds of laws that aggressively establish an ideology that is not a religion.
A version of the Golden Rule is at the heart of every religion.
Studies suggest that for many, religion is as much a social and cultural attachment as a deep spiritual commitment.
The owners of the hotel where I stayed were Yezidis, eager to talk about their religion.
I cannot, for it is evident that you love me, and such love is condemned by religion.
Restoration of true religion and Government on their first principle, v.285.
religion is no way of life, no show of life, no observance of any sort.
I am afraid they are more depressed by their superstitions than sustained by their religion.
The extension of the empire, therefore, is an extension of religion.
c.1200, "state of life bound by monastic vows," also "conduct indicating a belief in a divine power," from Anglo-French religiun (11c.), Old French religion "piety, devotion; religious community," and directly from Latin religionem (nominative religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods; conscientiousness, sense of right, moral obligation; fear of the gods; divine service, religious observance; a religion, a faith, a mode of worship, cult; sanctity, holiness," in Late Latin "monastic life" (5c.).
According to Cicero derived from relegere "go through again" (in reading or in thought), from re- "again" (see re-) + legere "read" (see lecture (n.)). However, popular etymology among the later ancients (Servius, Lactantius, Augustine) and the interpretation of many modern writers connects it with religare "to bind fast" (see rely), via notion of "place an obligation on," or "bond between humans and gods." In that case, the re- would be intensive. Another possible origin is religiens "careful," opposite of negligens. In English, meaning "particular system of faith" is recorded from c.1300; sense of "recognition of and allegiance in manner of life (perceived as justly due) to a higher, unseen power or powers" is from 1530s.
To hold, therefore, that there is no difference in matters of religion between forms that are unlike each other, and even contrary to each other, most clearly leads in the end to the rejection of all religion in both theory and practice. And this is the same thing as atheism, however it may differ from it in name. [Pope Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, 1885]
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