Religion: A Dual Path to Moral Clarity and Divine Connection
The essence of religion is expressed in its ability to help a person achieve spiritual well-being, understand life, and establish proper relationships with both the surrounding world and the highest source of being. Religion provides an opportunity to discern what is true from what is false, thus serving as a criterion for distinguishing good from evil. As stated, “in religion, a person finds the criterion for correctly distinguishing the true from the false, the due from the illusory, the good from the evil” (source: link txt).Furthermore, religion is intended to establish a deep spiritual connection between a person and God. Its main goal is not so much the accumulation of knowledge about God as it is personal acquaintance with Him, as emphasized by the idea: “The main point of religion is to know God” (source: link txt). This knowledge reveals a person’s true purpose, helps find one’s place in the world, and guides the transformation of the inner self through divine union.Thus, according to these sources, religion has a dual focus. On one hand, it serves as a moral guide, clarifying the principles of good and evil and helping to understand the essence of human existence. On the other hand, it strives to establish a strong spiritual bond between the individual and God, which in itself is the highest goal of existence. This characterizes its purpose, as indicated by the discussion on the etymology of the word “religion”: uniting and revering the source of all being (source: link txt).Supporting citation(s):“The purpose of religion has always been the spiritual welfare or happiness of a person, which has always been regarded as the goal and meaning of life in general. ... In religion, a person finds the criterion for correctly distinguishing the true from the false, the due from the illusory, the good from the evil.” (source: link txt)“Speaking of religion, ... The main point in religion is to know God.” (source: link txt)“Thus, the origin of the word ‘religion’ indicates its two principal meanings: union and reverence…” (source: link txt)