religion en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ɹɪˈlɪd͡ʒ.ən/ (Australia, Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- /ɹəˈləd͡ʒ.ən/ (New-Zealand)
- (UK) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re- Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *léǵeti Proto-Italic *legō Latin legō Latin relegōder.? ▲ Latin re- Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ-der. Latin ligō Latin religōder.? Proto-Indo-European *-ōder. Proto-Indo-European *-Hōder.? Latin -ō Latin -iō Latin religiōbor. Old French religionbor. Middle English religioun English religion From Middle English religioun, from Old French religion, from Latin religiō (“scrupulousness, pious misgivings, superstition, conscientiousness, sanctity, an object of veneration, cult-observance, reverence”). Most likely from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂leg- with the meanings preserved in Latin dīligere and legere (“to read repeatedly”, “to have something solely in mind”). Displaced Old English ǣfæstnes (“religion, lawfulness”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) Belief in a spiritual or metaphysical reality (often including at least one deity), accompanied by practices or rituals pertaining to the belief.
Phallicism was, therefore, at the root of all religion, and was definitely the opponent of evil and darkness.
1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 160:My brother tends to value religion, but my sister not as much.
Religion is not identical with spirituality; rather, religion is the form spirituality takes in a civilization; it is not so much the opiate of the masses as it is the antidote for the poisons of civilization.
1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 103:Most books on the philosophy of religion try to begin with a precise definition of what its essence consists of. […] I shall not be pedantic enough to enumerate any of them to you now. Meanwhile the very fact that they are so many and so different from one another is enough to prove that the word “religion” cannot stand for any single principle or essence, but is rather a collective name.
1902, William James, “Lecture 2”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC:Holonyms: cosmology, ontology, epistemology, philosophy
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(countable) A particular system of such belief, and the rituals and practices proper to it.
Mormonism is a new religion, while Zoroastrianism is an old one.
Priest: I wasn't being rude. Father: Just bear in mind that there are plenty of other religions you know. Some of them, I may say, offering much greater range and value.
1989 February 10, Stephen Fry et al., “Christening”, in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, season 1, episode 5:“It is the duty of a high priestess to instruct, to interpret—according to the creed that others, wiser than herself, have laid down; but there is nothing in the creed which says that she must believe. The more one knows of one’s religion the less one believes—no one living knows more of mine than I.”
1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 184:Holonyms: cosmology, ontology, epistemology, philosophy
Ignorant and ſuperſtitious wretches meaſure the actions of letterd and philoſophical men by the tattle of their nurſes or illiterate parents and companions, or by the faſhion of the country: and people of differing religions judge and condemn each other by their own tenents; when both of them cannot be in the right, and it is well if either of them are.
1722, William Wollaston, “Sect. V. Truths relating to the Deity. Of his exiſtence, perfection, providence, &c.”, in The Religion of Nature Delineated, page 81:Islam is a major religion, particularly in North Africa and Southwest Asia.
Near-synonyms: credo, creed
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(uncountable) The way of life committed to by monks and nuns.
The monk entered religion when he was 20 years of age.
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(informal, uncountable) Rituals and actions associated with religious beliefs, but considered apart from them.
Jack's spiritual, but he's not really into religion.
I think some Christians would love Jesus more if they weren't so stuck in religion.
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(countable) Any practice to which someone or some group is seriously devoted.
At this point, Star Trek has really become a religion.
'Religion can't exist without mystery, especially science, the newest religion.'
1985, Joan Morrison, Share House Blues, Boolarong Publications, page 97:
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(obsolete, uncountable) Faithfulness to a given principle; conscientiousness.
Oh with what religion doe I respect and observe the same!
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 8, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| religions | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
atheism · nonbelief · nonreligiousness · irreligiousness · unbelief · antireligion · irreligion · antitheism · antireligiousness · nonreligion
Coordinates
transtheism · agnosticism · empiricism · ignosticism · science · apatheism · igtheism
Deriveds
religionwise · religiose · unreligion · natural religion · self-religion · religiofascist · religionary · religionistic · religionless · parareligion · religionlike · urreligion · religionist · religicide · lip religion · freedom of religion · religionism · overreligion · neo-religion · religism · antireligion · religtard · protoreligion · religion of peace · religofascist · subreligion · religious · get religion · conreligion · misreligion · irreligious · secular religion · American civil religion · war of religion · pseudoreligion · counterreligion · find religion · self religion · nonreligion · religionize · religitard · religion of piss · religionization · religist
Descendants
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
institutional religion · Zoroastrianism · Christianity · Raëlism · Yoruba · Sikhism · Hinduism · Eckankar · New Age · Buddhism · Shinto · Shenism · state religion · Islam · Taoism · organized religion · Olympianism · Spiritism · Tenrikyo · Baháʼí Faith · African traditional religion · paganism · Dodecatheism · Confucianism · Rastafarianism · LaVeyan Satanism · Unitarian Universalism · Cao Dai · folk religion · revealed religion · Indic religion · Wicca · Juche · Scientology · Hellenism · humanism · Asatru · extraterrestrial religion · hyperreal religion · the Old Religion · UFO religion · world religion · false religion · Rodnovery · Druidry · hyper-real religion · Jainism · Judaism
Meronyms
Relateds
religiophobia · antireligious · religiopolitical · organized religion · religiosity
Synonyms
belief · credo · faith · faith · faith · religion · theism · creed · superstition
Translations (242)
la religiō (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kl religioni (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pnb دھرم (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · da religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · wuh quilek (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pam kesalpantayanan (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh veroìspovēst (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · it religione (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ta மதம் (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · or ଧର୍ମ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ja 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · uz mazhab (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lad ריליג׳ייון (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ks مَزہَب (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tpi rilijin (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh вероѝспове̄ст (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sat ᱫᱤᱱ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sq fe (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · as ধৰ্ম (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ckb دین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fy religy (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sah итэҕэл (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hak 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ne धर्म (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · an relichión (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ha addini (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pt religião (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · te మతము (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · udm оскон (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sd مذهب (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh vȅra (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mos wẽnd so-tũudum (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · dsb nabóžnina (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tr bağlanç (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pdt Gloowe (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kmr ol (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ar دِين (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · he דָּת (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · wuu 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lt reli̇̀gija (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · shu دين (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tr inanç (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fo átrúnaður (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · vi tôn giáo (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh rèlīgija (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ug دىن (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ia religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ckb ئاین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ta சமயம் (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ht relijyon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ka რელიგია (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ang ǣfæstnes (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lad relijion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · el θρησκεία (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tg дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tyv шажын (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bn ধর্ম (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh vjeroìspovijēst (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · gd creideamh (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · gu ધર્મ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ga reiligiún (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pl wiara (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · dv ދީން (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · dng җё (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tpi lotu (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · io religio (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nl geloofsovertuiging (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bn দ্বীন (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · dng дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ms din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · av дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh рѐлӣгија (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mg fivavahana (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nl godsdienst (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · so diin (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · rup pisti (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kok धर्म (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · gv craueeaght (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · et religioon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pi धम्म (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · uz din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · is átrúnaður (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ast relixón (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ur مَذْہَب (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pl religia (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · de Religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nl religie (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · unm këntuwe (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · be веравызна́нне (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sco releegion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ur دِین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sl religija (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ae 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬥𐬁 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bg вероизповеда́ние (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · az məzhəb (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fa-ira کیش (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ca religió (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hi दीन (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ms agama (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nb religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tk din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kmr dîn (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · yi רעליגיע (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · crh din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ml മതം (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · eo religio (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lo ສາດສະໜາ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tr mezhep (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sat ᱫᱷᱚᱨᱚᱢ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · yue 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ka სარწმუნოება (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mn шашин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · rue релі́ґія (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mn ᠱᠠᠰᠢᠨ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ga creideamh (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hrx Rëlighion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lb Relioun (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fr religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · id agama (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · prs آیِین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lv reliģija (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · uk релі́гія (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sk relígia (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · uk ві́ра (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · oc religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pal dyn' (dēn) (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ru рели́гия (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · km សាសនា (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pam kasalpantayanan (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ro religie (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ba дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pl wyznanie (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · liv relīgij (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · my အယူဝါဒ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · cs náboženství (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hu vallás (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · vec rełijon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · inh ди (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bua шажан (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · zza din (diq) (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ko 종교 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ce дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · az din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ady дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sa धर्म (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · si ආගම (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · alt кудай јаҥы (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sl veroizpoved (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · et usk (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ps مذهب (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ka აღმსარებლობა (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · uk віросповіда́ння (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hil relihiyon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · cy crefydd (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · lez дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sv religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kn ಧರ್ಮ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · prs آئِین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pih rilijin (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ab адин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nrf r'ligion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · my ဘာသာတရား (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sw dini (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · xal шаҗн (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · be рэлі́гія (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · th ศาสนา (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mt reliġjon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · id din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh вјероѝсповије̄ст (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · prs دِین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fa-ira مَذْهَب (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · aot thorom (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ota دین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fa-ira دین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sk náboženstvo (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sq din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · af godsdiens (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ru вероиспове́дание (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tr din (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · min agamo (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · be ве́ра (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh вје̏ра (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · gd diadhachd (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fa-ira آیین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bg рели́гия (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · es religión (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hi मज़हब (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bo ཆོས་ལུགས (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · is trúarbrögð (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mk религија (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fi uskonto (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · prs مَذْهَب (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ur دَھرْم (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · grc θρησκεία (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mwl religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · cv тӗн (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · gl relixión (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tl relihiyon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · syl ꠗꠞ꠆ꠝꠧ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · cmn 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ms kepercayaan (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · eu erlijio (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · os дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh ве̏ра (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · prs کیش (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · my ဘာသာ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ang ġelēafa (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hy կրոն (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sgs viera (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · uk віровизна́ння (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pms religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ms anutan (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pi dhamma (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nan-hbl 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nb trosretning (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tg мазҳаб (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · rm religiun (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pa ਧਰਮ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · fa-ira آئین (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · tt дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · arz دين (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ru ве́ра (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · cdo 宗教 (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · bg вяра (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · cop ⲙⲉⲧⲁⲥⲉⲃⲏⲥ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · izh religia (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · chr ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · wa rilidjon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · be веравызна́ньне (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hi धर्म (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sh vjȅra (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · mr धर्म (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ps دين (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · ky дин (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · am ሃይማኖት (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · vi đạo (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kk дін (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · pdt Reljoon (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · hsb nabožina (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · sl vera (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · nn religion (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death) · kmr ayîn (system of beliefs dealing with soul, deity and/or life after death)