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- For a topic outline on this subject, see List of basic topics of religion
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 In the larger sense, religion is a communal system for the coherence of belief—typically focused on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion can also be described as a way of life. The development of religion has taken many forms in various cultures. "Organized religion" generally refers to an organization of people supporting the exercise of some religion with a prescribed set of beliefs, often taking the form of a legal entity (see religion-supporting organization). Other religions believe in personal revelation and responsibility. "Religion" is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system," but is more socially defined than that of personal convictions.
 According to the Christian gospels, Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, where she and her husband Joseph had travelled to register in the Roman census. Christ's birth, or nativity, was said by his followers to fulfill the prophecies of Judaism that a messiah would come, from the house of David, to redeem the world from sin. Early Christians celebrated more the subsequent Epiphany, when the baby Jesus was visited by the Magi. Efforts to assign a date for his birth began some centuries later. The precise chronology of Jesus' birth and death as well as the historicity of Jesus are still debated. In predominantly Christian countries, Christmas has become the most economically significant holiday of the year, and it is also celebrated as a secular holiday in many countries with small Christian populations. It is largely characterized by exchanging gifts within families, and by gifts brought by Santa Claus or other mythical figures. Local and regional Christmas traditions are still rich and varied, despite the widespread influence of American and British Christmas motifs through literature, television, and other media. [[Image:|center|300px|A detail from a miniature painting in the Rajastani style, made by the artist LaLa in Udipur. Painted in September 2004. shows the Goddess Gayatri.]] Gayatri is a poetic form used in the sacred texts of Hinduism. It also is one mantra in particular, attributed to Vishwamitra, and a goddess as its personification, a representation of the Parabrahman. Zoroaster (Greek Ζωροάστρης, Zōroastrēs) or Zarathustra (Avestan: Zaraθuštra), also referred to as Zartosht (Persian: زرتشت), was an ancient Iranian prophet and the founder of Zoroastrianism, a religion that was the national religion of the Sassanid Empire of Persia; it is predominantly practiced today by the Parsi community of India. Zoroaster is generally accepted as an authentic historical figure, but the period in which he lived remains unclear. Many scholarly estimates place him circa 1200 B.C., making him a candidate to be the founder of the earliest religion based on revealed scripture, while others place him anywhere between the 18th and the 6th centuries B.C. The teachings of Zoroaster are presented in the yasna, seventeen liturgical texts or "hymns," which is divided into groups called Gāthās. The basic precept of Zoroastrianism is the maxim "Humata, Hukhta, Huvarshta" Sanskrit sumata, sukta, suvartana) — “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.”
Latest religion/spirituality Wikinews
March 18:
 Joseph Smith, Jr. said the book was a translation of Golden Plates. He related that he was shown the location of the plates by an angel at the Hill Cumorah, a hill near his home. Smith had no knowledge of ancient languages, but he said he received the translation through the power of God, with aid of the Urim and Thummim, which he said were with the plates. During the production of the work (which Mormons regard as a translation), Smith obtained the affidavits of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses who testified they saw the plates. These affidavits are published as part of the Book of Mormon. When the book was complete, he said he returned the plates to the angel Moroni.
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