religion

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun The belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers, regarded as creating and governing the universe.
• noun A particular variety of such belief, especially when organized into a system of doctrine and practice.
• noun A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
• noun The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
• noun A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
• idiom (get religion) To become religious or devout.
• idiom (get religion) To resolve to end one's immoral behavior.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun Recognition of and allegiance in manner of life to a superhuman power or superhuman powers, to whom allegiance and service are regarded as justly due.
• noun The healthful development and right life of the spiritual nature, as contrasted with that of the mere intellectual and social powers.
• noun Any system of faith in and worship of a divine Being or beings: as, the Christian religion; the religion of the Jews, Greeks, Hindus, or Mohammedans.
• noun The rites or services of religion; the practice of sacred rites and ceremonies.
• noun The state of life of a professed member of a regular monastic order: as, to enter religion; her name in religion is Mary Aloysia: now especially in Roman Catholic use.
• noun A conscientious scruple; scrupulosity.
• noun Sense of obligation; conscientiousness; sense of duty.
• noun Synonyms Religion, Devotion, Piety, Sanctity, Saintliness, Godliness, Holiness, Religiosity. In the subjective aspect of these words religion is the most general, as it may be also the most formal or external; in this sense it is the place of the will and character of God in the heart, so that they are the principal object of regard and the controlling influence. Devotion and piety have most of fervor. Devotion is a religion that consecrates itself- being both a close attention to God with complete inward subjection and an equal attention to the duties of religion. Piety is religion under the aspect of filial feeling and conduct, the former being the primary idea. Sanctity is generally used objectively; subjectively it is the same as holiness- Saintliness i s more concrete than sanctity, more distinctly a quality of a person, likeness to a saint, ripeness for heaven. Godliness is higher than saintliness; it is likeness to God, or the endeavor to attain such likeness, fixed attention given immediately to God, especially obedience to his will and endeavor to copy his character. Holiness is the most absolute of these words; it is moral and religious wholeness, completeness, or something approaching so near to absolute freedom from sin as to make the word appropriate; it includes not only being free from sin, but refusing it and hating it for its own sake. Religiosity is not a very common nor a very euphonious word, but seems to meet a felt want by expressing a susceptibility to the sentiments of religion, awe, reverence, admiration for the teachings of religion, etc., without much disposition to obey its commands.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun 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.
• noun 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.
• noun (R. C. Ch.) A monastic or religious order subject to a regulated mode of life; the religious state.
• noun rare Strictness of fidelity in conforming to any practice, as if it were an enjoined rule of conduct.
• noun a religion based upon the evidences of a God and his qualities, which is supplied by natural phenomena. See Natural theology, under Natural.
• noun a name sometimes given to a religion founded upon positivism as a philosophical basis.
• noun 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.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun The belief in and worship of a supernatural controlling power, especially a personal god or gods.
• noun A particular system of faith and worship.
• noun The way of life committed to by monks and nuns.
• noun Any practice that someone or some group is seriously devoted to.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
• noun an institution to express belief in a divine power