Religion is a set of beliefs and practices that provides meaning and purpose to life. It binds people together, promotes social cohesion and solidarity, and fosters group identity. It can also be a source of stress and conflict, as when members of a religious community persecute or kill members of other communities. Many scholars study religion to understand its complex influence on societies.
A central question in the study of religion is what does it mean to be religious. The definition of religion varies widely across time and place. For example, some political ideologies, such as communism or fascism, are not typically considered religions, but they have been influential in world history. Others, such as the belief in spiritual beings, appear in all known cultures. Yet a tight definition of religion would exclude much of what is actually practiced and to ignore the significant differences between religions.
Scholars use a variety of methods to study religion. One approach, called functionalist, aims to understand religion in its social context. Other approaches, such as symbolic interactionist and conflict theory, examine how religion functions in a culture, how it affects individuals, and the problems that can arise from it.