ELISA ENGLISH's Blog 英語園地

(1) The usage of "found" vs. "established" around religion

(2) The singular and plural form of the word “religion”      

(1) I do agree that “found” is more used more commonly in day to day life.  “Establish” is a more formal usage.  Both words can be used to describe the establishment of religions. 

宗教的立意本是良善的 但也因此有人頂著宗教的名義把莫須有的罪惡加諸在其他的事物上面

Religion is established with kind intention; however, some people have manipulated it, fabricating wrongdoings onto other things.

成立"宗教的動詞為何

establish

成立宗教的意義

The purpose of religion establishment.

成立

establish (v.)

establishment (n.)

See http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_reli.html  
First Amendment - Establishment of Religion.
The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed.

http://www.sunnetworks.net/~ggarman/civillaw.html

The Constitution deliberately and specifically states that “religion” shall not be established by law

(2) As for how to differentiate when to use the word religion or religions, this is how I see it.  The difference lies in how and where you use the word, whether it means religion in general or different types of religions.

For example:

There are several (types of) religions in the world.

There are so many different (species of) fishes in the world.

Religion (in general) teaches human beings to stay away from violence.

Fish (in general) has tons of omega-3 fat that is good for your health.

Religion [was] not, as too often now, used as equivalent for godliness; but . . . it expressed the outer form and embodiment which the inward spirit of a true or a false devotion assumed. --Trench.

Religion will attend you . . . as a pleasant and useful companion in every proper place, and every temperate occupation of life. --Buckminster.