There is no common universal definition of religion. It is used in various ways in different social, cultural and academic contexts, mostly without a specified definition. This article aims to discuss the multifaceted character of the concept religion and the problem of a normative use of the word religion in public official context such as public debate, political discourse, legal regulation, policies or in cases of conflict. The discourse of the principle of Freedom of religion in the Universal Declaration of Human rights is used as an example, since it is highly valued in many legal systems.