Harpeet asked:

Is religion important? And if so, why?

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I take 'religion' in the formative sense of that which is binding on humanity and binds it. The Latin
word 'religio' is related to religo 'to bind'. What is binding can be put in infinite ways, but it boils down
to few 'precepts' or 'commandments'. Without these as a basis reason can't properly exist, and
therefore neither can justice or the hope and friendship, which is the 'glue' of society. Without the
basic precepts for conduct, humanity is not even properly 'human'. These precepts are universals.
They are not compromised by time and place, rather the reverse is true, that time and place are often
compromised by them. Therefore, when we look back on certain times and we realise how, for
instance, the precept not to take life was forgotten, we are horrified and regretful. That which binds
and is binding upon us is important, that is why religion is important. World religions give a cultural
form, spirit and ritual to these binding precepts; most importantly (and this is what distinguishes the
world religions from sect, cults and nonsense) they bring philosophy to bear. The world religions are
as philosophically sophisticated as philosophy itself, that is why they are so wonderful.

Matthew Del Nevo

www.sicetnon.com