The religion, i don't know what Oxford says about but i do know about what it means to me. History tells us about so many things about how people lived, learned, survived and evolved, but we can not see history in isolation we will have to have an holistic view about all pervasive aspects together to understand the situation.
By observing the Multi-Facets society and it's order, i can say that the form, we know religion today was not always present or was not it was meant for. I see religion as an "Order" of society to lead good, healthy, calm and peaceful life. For intense, "Surya Namaskar", is a way of worshiping as religion says. It is also a fabulous exercise. It helps to produce vitamin D through skin in presence of Sun Light. But when elders (in ancient time) taught his younger they told it as the way to please God Sun (May be). The information traveled a long time. We know when a communication travels long distance (in space or time) it deteriorates and fell short of some information. Possibly this is what happened to religion.
By observing the Multi-Facets society and it's order, i can say that the form, we know religion today was not always present or was not it was meant for. I see religion as an "Order" of society to lead good, healthy, calm and peaceful life. For intense, "Surya Namaskar", is a way of worshiping as religion says. It is also a fabulous exercise. It helps to produce vitamin D through skin in presence of Sun Light. But when elders (in ancient time) taught his younger they told it as the way to please God Sun (May be). The information traveled a long time. We know when a communication travels long distance (in space or time) it deteriorates and fell short of some information. Possibly this is what happened to religion.