What is the true purpose of religion?

Thanks for coming back. This time, the question is 'What is the true purpose of Religion?' Before getting to an answer, I would like to give what I think the true definition of religion is:

Religion (re+ligion) is something that was invented to re-unite people. It can be anything that brings two or more people together. For example, Internet is a religion (as it conforms to my definition). So, religion is there not to build walls around people but to really bring them together. Also, I would like to add to the fact that Religion has nothing to do with God; I believe Religion is often confused with Faith, which, in turn, has everything to do with God. This post is entirely about the former.

I believe that the true purpose of religion is to teach us this: Be Good; Do Good. Sadly, 'Good' is a term (like most terms) that can have a very relativistic sense. To give an example, 'good' for Mr. Laden would mean 'Jihad' and its pursuing; hence what he really does is 'good', according to him. But, 'good' would mean something exactly the opposite of Mr. Laden's idea of it to other people.

So, what religion does is try to give an absolute definition for 'good'. By absolute, I do not mean something not bounded by time; I mean something that is future-proof at least for a finite period of time. To make it more clear, 'good', according to some scriptures, meant pouring oil on some sacrificial fires; that might have been true during that finite period of time. As times have changed, 'good', right now is having a totally different meaning. So, what we must do is bring about 'new' versions of scriptures that are true for this finite time-period. (I really would like to see The Bible (2005 ed.), The Holy Qur'An (2005 revised ed.) and such stuff).

I believe that I have used the words 'religion' and 'scriptures' interchangeably because scriptures are nothing but the printed versions of religious teachings. This brings us to a big paradox: How come religion (which does not deal with God) and scriptures (which do preach about God) be the same? This can be cleared by applying the 'time-bound principle. At that time, maybe God was necessary; in this time-period, maybe (only maybe) we must replace 'God' by 'Good' to get the present day perspective. One final point:

We are what we are because of religion. Religion is the one that has taught us things like Love, Compassion, Pity, Mercy, Happiness and similar 'good' qualities. Yes, I mean to say that we human beings know everything that we know only from others; So these qualities must be taught. They cannot develop by genetic factors or by instinct. So, what told you to feel happy when you see a blind child in tears after learning his first lesson through Braille? The answer is religion. I don't think we have such qualities in ourselves by birth. Our parents/friends must have taught them to us. Likewise, who taught them? Religion.

Coming to the current scenario, people have spoiled the name of religion by attributing it to be the main cause for communal disharmony. I think saying that religion creates differences among people is like saying that a coat-hanger is used to wash dishes! In both cases, the words, by themselves, give their true meaning. So, if people really understand what religion really means, I assure you, it'll be an even more wonderful place to exist. That's it for now.

I remain,

Ravi Teja R.