Religion is an important aspect of many people’s lives. It can bring people together, but it can also be a source of division and stress. Religion can inspire people to be kind and caring, but it can also be a force for violence and oppression.
Social scientists have debated the meaning of religion for centuries. The definition of religion is a central issue in anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, religious studies, and cognitive science. It is a complex concept that involves a range of issues: beliefs, practices, institutions, values, and power.
The debate has two broad camps. One camp, influenced by Emile Durkheim, defines religion as a taxon for sets of social practices that serve to unite people into a moral community and provide an explanatory framework for human existence. This functional approach is common among social psychologists and sociologists.
Sociologists have also developed other approaches to the study of religion. They may use a substantive or a functional definition of religion, or they may adopt a relativist or an ecumenical view. Substantive definitions of religion emphasize beliefs, a worldview, and a system of values. They tend to exclude some versions of Buddhism, Jainism, and Daoism, which are nontheistic.
Functional definitions of religion are more flexible. They include the belief that there are powers higher than humans and an attempt to please or propitiate those powers. They also include rituals and ceremonies that can involve crying, laughing, screaming, trancelike states, feelings of oneness with others, and intense emotional and psychological experiences. These are common features of religions in general, but they may not always be present in a particular faith.