organized religion

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

organized religion - an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him" religion, faith institution, establishment - an organization founded and united for a specific purpose Christian church, church - one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship Hebraism, Jewish religion, Judaism - Jews collectively who practice a religion based on the Torah and the Talmud Hindooism, Hinduism - the religion of most people in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal Taoism - religion adhering to the teaching of Lao-tzu Buddhism - a religion represented by the many groups (especially in Asia) that profess various forms of the Buddhist doctrine and that venerate Buddha Khalsa - the group of initiated Sikhs to which devout orthodox Sikhs are ritually admitted at puberty; founded by the tenth and last Guru in 1699 Church of Scientology, Scientology - a new religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1955 and characterized by a belief in the power of a person's spirit to clear itself of past painful experiences through self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment Shinto - the native religion and former ethnic cult of Japan established church - the church that is recognized as the official church of a nation religious order, religious sect, sect - a subdivision of a larger religious group cult - followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader cult - followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices canonize, saint, canonise - declare (a dead person) to be a saint; "After he was shown to have performed a miracle, the priest was canonized" exorcise, exorcize - expel through adjuration or prayers; "exorcise evil spirits" confirm - administer the rite of confirmation to; "the children were confirmed in their mother's faith" covenant - enter into a covenant redeem, save, deliver - save from sins