What is Religion?

According to Webster's , "religion" is a " cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." I personally hate the word "religion". Many people say "he or she was very religious." What does that mean? Does it matter? Does being "religious" affect where you will spend eternity? The most highly "religious" people of Jesus' time were so caught up in their religion that they failed to recognize that He was the Messiah. Their vast knowledge of the Old Testament writings and their devout religious practices did nothing to help them see the truth. In fact it did just the opposite. They could not understand how a simple Jewish carpenter could be the Saviour of the world.