Religion is a set of beliefs and practices that people use to give meaning to their lives. It usually involves some sort of ritual, a belief in a god or deities, and a code of conduct or set of moral principles. It can also include a particular day or time to worship, sacred books, a priesthood that administers the religion, and places, symbols, and days that are considered sacred to believers. It has been found in all cultures throughout history and often takes on different forms in each culture.
Most scholars agree that religion has something to do with salvation, either in a literal sense with a place called heaven or, in a more symbolic sense with nirvana (enlightenment) as found in some Eastern religions such as Buddhism. Religion also typically deals with one or more moral principles, such as the avoidance of evil and a desire to live life to the fullest.
The 19th century marked a formative period for modern religious studies as it was during this time that three social theorists—Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx—examined the relationship between religion and society. Their work laid the foundation for many of the scholarly perspectives we see in modern religious studies.
Since then, there has been a shift toward what is commonly referred to as a “reflexive turn” in the study of religion. This has involved pulling back the camera, so to speak, and examining how the assumptions baked into the concept of religion have distorted our understanding of historical realities.