Religion is a term commonly used to define a set of beliefs and practices that are held to be sacred and of special worth. Those beliefs and practices are often based on supernatural or divine principles, and may include moral and social guidelines, devotional rituals, a sense of awe and reverence, and a belief in a higher power or spiritual reality. Some religious communities also believe in a afterlife. Many religions have a rich and varied history, and have been shaped by cultural contexts and influences from around the world.
While it is not always possible to determine what religions truly believe in, it is important to understand how they function within a society. Sociologists have developed a number of tools to study this subject, including surveys, polls, interviews, and historical analysis. The work of Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx paved the way for modern sociology’s study of religion.
A major challenge for studying religion is that there are no definitively distinct forms of the religions that exist on earth. Many of the attempts to create a definition of religion focus on finding a single ingredient that all religions possess, such as a numinous experience or the contrast between the sacred and the profane or the presence of one or more gods. These are considered “substantive” definitions because they seek to determine membership in a category based on the existence of a particular kind of reality.
Other definitions seek to avoid establishing an ahistorical essence for the religions by dropping the substantive component and focusing instead on their functioning in a particular society. This approach is called “functionalist” and is the basis for much of today’s sociological study of religion. One of the most influential functionalist definitions was developed by Paul Tillich, and is known as a “polythetic” definition because it recognizes that a religion can have more than one property.
In addition to helping people to make sense of their lives and give meaning to their experiences, religion serves other social functions, such as providing a framework for moral conduct, encouraging cooperation with others, giving people a reason to live, and motivating people to work for positive social change. Unfortunately, religion can also promote social inequality, discourage the poor from seeking help, and lead to hostility and violence between groups of individuals or between nations.
To avoid biasing your students, be careful to choose educational resources that present a diverse and accurate view of religions on the planet. While standard textbooks may cover standardized testing requirements, look for books that describe the variety of current day beliefs and practices; first-person accounts of what life is like as an adherent of a particular religion; and scholarly analyses of current events. These will give your students the tools they need to become educated and tolerant participants in our global community.