"Revealed religion" is spelled /rɪˈviːld rɪˈlɪdʒən/. The word "revealed" is spelled with two "e's" and the "a" is pronounced as a schwa /ə/. "Religion" is spelled with a "g" sound, but it is pronounced with a "j" sound as /rɪˈlɪdʒən/. This term refers to religions that believe in a divine revelation from a higher power. It is often used to differentiate from religions that are based on tradition or human philosophy.
Revealed religion refers to a belief system or religious doctrine that claims to be based on divine revelation or communication between the human and the divine. It is a term commonly used in theology, philosophy of religion, and religious studies to distinguish spiritual traditions that claim to possess knowledge or teachings that have been directly revealed by a supernatural entity or entities.
Unlike natural religion, which is typically based on human reason and observation of the natural world, revealed religion asserts that sacred truths or principles have been disclosed to specific individuals or groups through supernatural means. These revelations are often believed to be imparted through scriptures, prophets, messiahs, or other forms of divine communication. As such, adherents of revealed religions place faith in these revelations and consider them to be authoritative sources of religious truth.
Revealed religions can be found across various traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. These faiths consider their respective holy texts, such as the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, or the Guru Granth Sahib, as divine revelations that guide believers in faith and religious practice.
The concept of revealed religion implies a direct and intentional disclosure of religious truths or commands from a higher power to humanity. It is often contrasted with natural religion or religions that are based on human reasoning and philosophical speculation. However, it is important to note that different religions may have distinct understandings and interpretations of what constitutes a revealed religion.
The term "revealed religion" is derived from the combination of two words: "revealed" and "religion".
The word "revealed" comes from the Old French word "reveler", which means "to reveal" or "to disclose". It can be traced back further to the Latin word "revelare", composed of "re-" (meaning "again" or "back") and "velare" (meaning "to cover" or "to veil"). Therefore, "revealed" implies the action of unveiling or making known something that was previously hidden or secret.
The word "religion" has a more complex etymology. It originates from the Latin word "religio", which had several meanings, including "obligation" or "bond". It also potentially derived from the Latin word "religare", which means "to bind" or "to connect".