Hidden Meanings of the Words "Religion" and "Religious" in the Legal Discourse

The words “religion” and “religious” are deeply influenced by cultural and social context. The word “religion” could mean to the ears of a North American a social phenomenon that a South American doesn’t consider such. The same thing can happen in a dialogue between an Asian and an European. In fact, in contemporary society, the word “religion” has many meanings, not always understandable, sometimes hidden. The same goes for the adjective “religious.” What do I mean when I define a place, a behavior, a building, a person with the adjective “Religious”? Can I really be sure that what for me is “religious” is so for the man talking to me as well? Do my culture, education, and family traditions lead me to consider as “Religious” something that for other people is not so? Such questions are particularly relevant if we think about the value that many legal systems attribute to “Religion” and “Religious.” The words “religion” and “religious” have hidden meanings that only knowledge of a given culture and tradition may help to unravel. These hidden meanings are often important in legal discourse, especially in case law; which is why it is necessary to reveal them.