What Is Religion?
Religion is the belief in supernatural and spiritual components of a culture or system. It is often a complex experience, and lines are difficult to draw between what is religious and what is not. Many people consider themselves to be religious, but may not meet a strict definition of the term, such as the one offered by psychologist Rodney Needham: “a system that is connected to spiritual and/or supernatural components that uniquely impacts the adherent’s worldview, behavior, belief, culture, morality, and approach to certain writings, persons or places.”
There are several different types of religions, with some more widely practiced than others. Some religions are more focused on teachings about a particular deity, while other faiths are more community-oriented and have an emphasis on service to the world. Regardless of the specific beliefs, almost all religions share some common teachings about how to treat others and how to live a life with compassion and care.
The idea that there are some forms of religion that are more true than others is at the heart of much debate in both social science and philosophy. This has led to some philosophies of religion that focus on the concept of truth and what is “really there.” Other schools of thought take a more functional approach, arguing that the role of religion in society is to provide mechanisms for maintaining psychological and social well-being.
Many people believe that to understand religion requires a change in perspective and an abandonment of the idea that religion is a collection of subjective mental states. They argue that the idea of a “religion” is an artificial construction created by the Protestant worldview, and that scholars should instead concentrate on studying the institutions and disciplinary practices that create religions.
A third school of thought focuses on psychology, seeking to explain the reasons for people’s religious beliefs and behaviors. This includes a variety of theories such as those by Sigmund Freud (Oedipus Complex, Illusion), Carl Jung (Universal Archetypes), Erich Fromm (“Desire, Need for stable frame”), Gordon Allport (Mature Religion and Immature Religion), Rudolf Otto (Mystical experiences), and William James (Personal Religious Experience).
Regardless of the specific beliefs, most religions share some common teachings about how a person should act and what is important in life. Several studies have shown that the regular practice of religion leads to increased health and happiness. It can also help prevent social problems such as crime, domestic abuse and substance use. Additionally, it has been linked to higher education attainment and lower rates of depression. It is no wonder that two-thirds of Americans describe themselves as religious, and the importance of religion in the lives of people should not be overlooked by purely secular approaches to public policy, psychotherapy or education.