US ambassador killed over a film

[Taem]

Religion
re·li·gion | [ri-lij-uhn] | noun
1.a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

These definitions speak volumes to both of our ideas about the word "Religion". Religion as a term can be both the beliefs, and the institution itself. You could also go on about the societal connotation that the word Religion has taken on as well.

One small nit here; definition #2 is really the only one that's understood by the majority of people. You have the Christian Faith, which is a Religion. Within that religion, you have many, many offshoots: EXAMPLE . But each one of those offshoots are not considered a separate Religion unto their own as your definition there would have you believe (except by definition #2's standards). When people aren't sure what they are but believe in a higher power, they call themselves SPIRITUAL. When people have "faith" in a religious institution, such as Christianity, but don't necessarily adhear to all it's standards (full biblical compliance), then they say they believe in the PHILOSOPHY of the religion, but not the religion itself. In the greater context of how our personal definitions of spirituality has changed as a society since the 1900th century, it is clear that any Religion is meant as an founding institution or even culture, such as Jewish, Muslim, and even Christian. Offshoots of these "cores" are not separate religions unto themselves, but offshoots. Believing in the idea of the Hebrew deity known as Jehovah but not the bible would be believing in the philosophy of the bible. And believing in nothing in the bible, but believing in a higher power would be being spiritual. You can continue to use the word "religion" as per it's dictionary definition if you choose, or you can choose to use the standard most people I know use today - the one I just laid out. Ultimately, it does not matter, but for discussions sake, knowing what people are talking about can make a world of difference, and take it from me, trying to explain to someone you believe in the philosophy of a religion, but not the religion itself to someone who can't understand anything but black and white can be incredibly frustrating.