--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word religion literally means, in…" description: "\"The word religion literally means, in Latin, to link or bind together; and despite the vast variation in the world's religions, Wilson shows that relig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/jonathan-haidt-1823_behavior_the-word-religion-literally-means-in-lat_1331503.jpg" --- # The word religion literally means, in Latin, to link or… ![“The word religion literally means, in Latin, to link or bind together; and despite the vast variation in the world's religions, Wilson shows that religions always serve to coordinate and orient people's behavior toward each other and toward the group as a whole, sometimes for the purpose of…” quote by Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/jonathan-haidt-1823_behavior_the-word-religion-literally-means-in-lat_1331503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/jonathan-haidt-1823_behavior_the-word-religion-literally-means-in-lat_1331503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/jonathan-haidt-1823_behavior_the-word-religion-literally-means-in-lat_1331503.jpg) > “The word religion literally means, in Latin, to link or bind together; and despite the vast variation in the world's religions, Wilson shows that religions always serve to coordinate and orient people's behavior toward each other and toward the group as a whole, sometimes for the purpose of competing with other groups.” [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religions act as social glue, linking individuals and groups, often shaping behavior and competition between groups. **In simple terms:** Religion binds people and groups together. Key Takeaway Recognize the social role of belief systems. Themes community identity competition social cohesion Mood thoughtful analytical Type sociological explanatory When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - policy making - education - conflict resolution Key Concepts social identity theory group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you foster inclusive group identity? - When does group competition become harmful? A Different Perspective Religions can also exclude or marginalize outsiders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People's Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peoples-behavior/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The problem with organized religions, Bill Wilson once explained, "is their claim how confoundedly right all of them are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-kurtz/the-problem-with-organized-religions-bill-wilson-once-explained-is/) [Ernest Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-kurtz/) > [“We can then recognize that we invented religions to serve two central needs which continue to this day and which secular society has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-can-then-recognize-that-we-invented-religions-to-serve-two-central/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/whereas-religions-may-serve-a-benign-purpose-by-letting-many-people/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/most-of-the-world-s-religions-serve-only-to-strengthen-attachments-to/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Most of the world's religions serve only to strengthen attachments to false concepts such as self and other, life and death, heaven and earth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-browne-walker/most-of-the-world-s-religions-serve-only-to-strengthen-attachments-to-2/) [Brian Browne Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-browne-walker/) > [Religion in the West has a very wrong connotation. It has almost reached to a point where the very word 'religion' creates a repulsion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/religion-in-the-west-has-a-very-wrong-connotation-it-has-almost/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Illusion is the best synonym for the word religion!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/illusion-is-the-best-synonym-for-the-word-religion/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [It depends on what you mean by the word religion. Certainly I don't go to temples and pray to the gods or anything like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/it-depends-on-what-you-mean-by-the-word-religion-certainly-i-don-t-go/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“Ultimately, beyond the primordial, brutish labels of man-made institutions, true practical religion of the civilized society must bring oneness. 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