What is the difference between a religion and a mythology? What stops someone from saying they worship Greek gods if asked if they are religious?
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Myths are a set of definitions and assumptions.
Religion is the numinous experience of a greater power, a deity (singular or plural). Regardless of beliefs.
The numinous experience is the awareness and the *feeling* of a deity that knows you better than you will ever know yourself – for better or for worse. Depending on the religion, the deity (singular or plural) may be in your favor or against you.
The deity doesn’t necessarily have a form but is experienced emotionally as a power that is outside of the human self. The self can feel it. It can be uplifting or terrifying or both. But the deity (singular or plural) is experienced as separate from one’s own mind, body and soul.
Religion can be framed by beliefs. It can be given a direction and purpose by belief. But it is not experienced solely in the mind of the believer as an intellectual set of beliefs. It is experienced always as a separate power from the believer.
The practice of religion is a way of life, a system of thought.
For a religious believer, one’s way of life is directed by the religion. Governments and populations can be shaped by religious direction and purpose. And by religious-type feelings and beliefs of ethical systems that aren’t considered religions such as Confucianism and certain channels of Buddhism.
For those interested in a well-explained deeper understanding of what religion is, with no attempts at conversion, I recommend the book “The History of God” by Karen Armstrong. She looks at the nature of religion and compares various religions throughout human history, without favoring one over the other.
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