How to say "religion" in Japanese

• 宗教しゅうきょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'religion' in its broad senses: religion as a general concept, a particular religion, or a person's belief or faith. Reach for this word when talking about religion itself or stating an affiliation.
  手始てはじめは、三さん大だい宗教しゅうきょうの聖地せいち、エルサレムを訪おとずれることだった。↗

  For a start, I visited Jerusalem - a sacred place for three major religions.
• 宗旨しゅうしCommon
  nounReally denotes a religious sect or denomination — the particular creed a person follows. Its 'religion' and 'faith' senses refer to such an affiliation, so it is seldom the word for religion in general.

Use 宗教 for religion in the general sense — the concept, a particular religion, or one's belief or faith — and turn to 宗旨 only when the point is sect or denomination, the specific creed a person follows.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 宗教しゅうきょうreligion
• 宗旨しゅうし(religious) sect