Religion can shape beliefs, values, daily practices and belonging to a faith community. People within a religion can experience and practise it differently.
A religion includes beliefs, teachings and practices through which people understand life and questions of meaning. Many religions involve belief in a god or gods, but that is not a definition that fits every religious tradition.
Religious teachings can guide choices about conduct, worship, food, festivals or service to others. Taking part can create relationships and a sense of belonging. Different religions and ways of practising them contribute to diversity, while people across religions can also share values and activities.
Religious affiliation means identifying with a religion; it does not tell us every belief or how often someone takes part. Some people have no religious affiliation and may draw values from family, personal reflection or other beliefs. Neither a religion nor its absence determines someone's character.
Worked example: Different ways of practising the same religion
Eli and June both identify as Christian. Eli says weekly worship and prayer are central to his routine. June attends services occasionally and says her faith mainly guides how she treats people at work.
- Both accounts identify the same religion, but describe different patterns of practice and different parts of daily life.
- Eli's routine shows participation in worship. June's account shows a stated link between religious teachings and conduct. Religion can shape identity in more than one way.
- The accounts do not let us rank who is a better person or predict all their choices. To explain a particular action, examine the person's reasons and what they did.
Watch out for this
People without a religion have no values, while everyone within one religion shares the same views.
People can develop values through religious and non-religious experiences. Look for evidence of a person's beliefs and actions, including differences within a faith community.
Check your understanding
One volunteer says religious teachings motivate her to help. Another has no religious affiliation and says fairness motivates him. What does this show?
- People with different religious affiliations can share a concern while explaining it differently.
- The second volunteer cannot have a moral reason for helping.
- Both must secretly share a religion because they do the same activity.