Religious interpretation and similarly religious self-interpretation define a section of religion

Religion

Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...

-related studies (theology

Theology

Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

, comparative religion

Comparative religion

Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...

, reason

Reason

Reason is a term that refers to the capacity human beings have to make sense of things, to establish and verify facts, and to change or justify practices, institutions, and beliefs. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, language, ...

) where attention is given to aspects of perception—where religious symbolism

Religious symbolism

Religious symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomena, by a religion. Religions view religious texts, rituals, and works of art as symbols of compelling ideas or ideals...

 and the self-image of all those who hold religious views have important bearing on how others perceive their particular belief system and its adherents.

Self interpretation

Often teachers of religion (preachers, monks, rabbis) make a claim that their religions are not religions at all —rather are "Way of Life," a "Reality," or "The Truth." From the point of view of another religion's aherents, claims like this are often seen to be diametrically opposed to their own teaching and belief. A Taoist who says for example that "Tao is not a religion, rather is a way of life" may find a very different view from a Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

 minister, or a Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 priest.

The typical claim then, is: 'Despite what another religion may claim, our truth is the real truth, or closer to the real truth. namely "God

God

God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....

." Hence a claim, by one religion's adherents that its truth is greater than the other. The irony is obvious: While each tradition aspires to appear as close to an essential truth —one which transcends material concerns and perceptual appearances, each will have adherents who maintain very localized and material concerns for its own traditional symbols and language. Logically then, it is only by these localized views that one religion's adherents may see others as inferior.