Religion is a collection of beliefs, moral values, rituals and traditions that people follow to give meaning to their lives. It also creates practical implications for how people live their daily lives. A religious person may not have all of the answers about life, but they are willing to listen to their instincts, or try to learn new ones.
While religion can be a good thing, it can be bad too. Large-scale acts of terrorism – including bombings, racist rallies, and spousal abuse – give religion a negative reputation.
While a lot of people agree that religion is a positive, they disagree on its impact on their lives. Some say that it gives them purpose, others say it helps them choose right from wrong.
Religious participants usually attend religious institutions and participate in rites or rituals. They may also take part in meditation, prayer, or other spiritual practices. These activities can be done in solitude, or as part of a larger community.
Most people who are religious agree that religion gives them meaning. Those who are not religious tend to disagree, however.
Among Europeans, there are two groups of people who are neither religious nor spiritual. Those who are not religious generally believe that there is no higher power or soul. On the other hand, those who are not spiritual generally agree that there are no spiritual forces in the universe.
A third group of people is not particularly religious, but is rather spiritual. This group generally believes that Jesus is a loving person. But they are not convinced that Jesus died for them.