Greater Reality Forum
 
Re: 'religion'


Message written by

Craig
July 24, 2012 at 10:09:02:

In Reply to
'religion'
posted by
kim marine
July 19, 2012 at 09:43:14:

 
Hi Kim,

You can find out about the origin of a word by looking in a dictionary. They have the etymology, meaning the origin of the word. A more complete history of a word would be at one of the etymology sites. This is one: http://www.etymonline.com/. This is what they have about "religion":

religion (n.) c.1200, "state of life bound by monastic vows," also "conduct indicating a belief in a divine power," from Anglo-Fr. religiun (11c.), from O.Fr. religion "religious community," from L. religionem (nom. religio) "respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods," in L.L. "monastic life" (5c.); according to Cicero, derived from relegere "go through again, read again," from re- "again" + legere "read" (see lecture (n.)). However, popular etymology among the later ancients (and 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." Another possible origin is religiens "careful," opposite of negligens.

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]

Meaning "particular system of faith" is recorded from c.1300. Modern sense of "recognition of, obedience to, and worship of a higher, unseen power" is from 1530s

Love and peace, Craig

 



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