Religion is a complex phenomenon with powerful and enduring influence in the lives of millions of people. It is a source of community and social cohesion, it provides meaning and purpose to life, it reinforces social stability and morality, and it offers strength during personal tragedy and transition. Its impact can be positive or negative, depending on the context and circumstances in which it is applied. There are many ways to describe and study religion, and the debate on how best to do so is a central feature of the field.
A large number of scholars have proposed definitions of religion, ranging from functional to historical to sociological. The majority of these have been “monothetic,” following the classical view that a concept can be accurately described by a single property that is shared by all its instances, rather than the polythetic approach that recognizes many properties that are common to religions without fastening onto any one of them as their essential nature. The latter approach is also more likely to avoid ethnocentrism.
Historically, the idea of what makes something a religion has depended on the time and place in which it was practiced, as well as on cultural contexts and assumptions. It has been variously understood as a sense of transcendence, a set of moral codes, or a feeling of connectedness with the divine. In the modern world, religion has often been seen as an obstacle to progress and modernization, but it is also still one of the most important forces in the lives of two-thirds of the global population.
Sociological functional approaches to the definition of religion date back to Emile Durkheim, who defined it as a system of beliefs and practices that binds a group together and gives them a shared moral code, creating solidarity. This was based on the assumption that religion has a strong impact on society and can be seen as a societal need, like hunger or air quality.
Other sociologists have taken a less functional approach, focusing on the positive impact of religious activity on the individuals who participate in it. These studies have shown that religious activity improves health, learning, economic and personal well-being, self-control, emotional maturity, and empathy. It has also been associated with lower rates of social pathologies, such as out-of-wedlock births, crime, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, and prejudice.
The anthropological study of religion also focuses on its positive effects, but with more emphasis on the social and psychological aspects of the practice. For example, it explores how religious activities may lead to feelings of ecstasy and transcendence and how they can be used as an aid to mental and physical healing.
A third way of defining religion is to take a symbolic interactionist approach, looking at the ways in which religious events and symbols communicate and evoke inner sentiments, including anger, fear, grief, happiness, and joy. This includes examining religious rituals and ceremonies, which can include crying, screaming, dancing, trancelike conditions, and a sense of oneness with the universe.