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relic, in religion, strictly, the mortal remains of a saint; in the broad sense, the term also includes any object that has been in contact with the saint. Among the major religions, Christianity, almost exclusively in Roman Catholicism, and Buddhism have emphasized the veneration of relics. The basis of Christian cult veneration of relics is the conception that reverence for the relics redounds to the honor of the saint. While expectation of favors may accompany...