What is a key characteristic of religion in the context of four ways of knowing?

In the context of the four ways of knowing, a key characteristic of religion is a belief in a divine entity's dictates. This characteristic emphasizes that religious beliefs and practices are often grounded in the interpretation of sacred texts, spiritual experiences, and the doctrines established by religious authorities. Unlike empirical evidence or scientific inquiry, which rely on observable and testable phenomena, religion operates on faith, spirituality, and the acceptance of truths that may not be provable through empirical means.

Thus, the belief in a divine entity's dictates encapsulates how religion informs moral values, guidelines for behavior, and the understanding of existence from a spiritual perspective. This reliance on divine authority sets religious knowledge apart from the other ways of knowing, which focus more on systematic reasoning or empirical validation.