Understanding the nature of religion

Monism

there is no real distinction between god and the universe

Polytheism

the belief and worship of many gods

Monotheism

the doctrine or belief in one supreme god

Atheism

disbelief in or denial of the existence of a personal god

Agnosticism

god cannot be known

Theism

used as a synonym to monotheism, is defined as "a belief in the existence of one god viewed as the creative source of the human race and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world"

Monotheistic religion

claim that there is only one God who could have designed and created the universe or may have directed all events that led to the creation of everything. There is one supreme God who is both personal and moral, and who seeks a total and unqualified response from humans

Polytheistic religion

The religion that are common among early people recognize many principal gods among whom no one is supreme. These include the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece, and Rome wherein people worship a multitude of personal gods.

Monism

asserts that there is no genuine distinction between God and the universe. Two implications arise from this belief. Firstly, it contends that God is dwelling in the universe as part of it. Secondly, the universe does not exist at all as a reality but only as a manifestation of God.

Atheists

Deny the existing of God

Agnostics

deny the possibility for man to acquire knowledge of the existence of God.

The Latin word religio refers to

"something done with overanxious or scrupulous attention to detail"

This term may have probably been derived from the Latin verb religare which means

"to tie together, to bind fast."