What is Religion & Belief?

There are a number of features which can define what religion is, including collective worship, a clear belief system and profound belief affecting the way of life or view of the world. It may be further characterised by prayer, ritual or religious laws. It is also the case that some people who do not formally belong to a faith or belief group will have beliefs about a deity, the after-life etc.

The Employment Equality (Religion and Belief) Regulations 2003 do not explicitly define what religion is or what belief is. Their purpose is to give legal protection to those who are religious or who hold a set of beliefs. The Regulations also cover those people without religious or similar beliefs.