• Religion, a universal and enduring entity, refers to a variety of systems, beliefs, and practices related to sacred, spiritual or transcendental matters.

• Examples of different religions and religious traditions include Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and shamanic and animistic folk religions.

Example: Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual development, aspiring for a deep insight into the true nature of life. Jainism is another example, which promotes non-violence and asceticism as the path to liberation.

• An interpretation of religion may vary based on the extent to which it is intertwined with a culture's judicial, economic, and political system. For instance, while some may argue that Christianity is merely a faith and not a judicial or economic code, others might view Islam as a complex system encompassing aspects of religion, military, judicial, economic, and political life.

Example: While a faith like Christianity can be practised in various cultural contexts, others like Islam might be deeply embedded in the societal fabric, influencing everything from daily routines to laws.

• There is a growing concern that religious illiteracy and narrow understanding of what is and isn't religion, or even covert political interests, might affect discussions about the nature of various religions.

Example: The case of redefining Islam as something other than a religion, as discussed in Asma Uddin's book "When Islam Is Not a Religion: Inside America’s Fight for Religious Freedom" (2019), shows how misinterpretations can pose a threat to religious freedom and human rights.