Religion as Practice‑Network

Instead of treating religion as a single kind of belief or doctrine, view it as a network of social practices, rituals, institutions and narratives that cluster and overlap with politics, identity and art. This shifts debates from trying to isolate an essence to mapping functions, stakeholders, harms and protections in particular contexts. — Framing religion as a practice‑network helps policymakers, courts and journalists avoid category mistakes that produce either overbroad protections or silencing of legitimate critique.