Religion is a complex, pervasive, and influential human phenomenon that has profound impacts on individuals and societies. The study of religion provides students with a broad, diverse range of perspectives and understandings to help them be informed citizens of the global community. This area of study also inspires real life skills that are needed in our ever changing world, including critical thinking, cultural awareness, and social responsibility.
The study of religion is a central part of the NCSS C3 Framework, which encourages students to learn about and explore the world in all its diversity and to develop the knowledge, skills, and values that are necessary for civic participation. It is widely believed that studying religion gives students a more rounded and complete understanding of history and culture, and allows them to become more tolerant and accepting of people who have different beliefs.
While it is important to understand the differences between various religious beliefs and practices, it is equally important to understand the commonalities that exist among them. For example, it is well known that religion is often characterized by shared beliefs and rituals that are designed to bring together members of a faith in a moral community. This definition of religion is based on Durkheim’s concept that religion is a collective activity, which brings together people with similar attitudes and enables them to achieve a higher degree of unity than they would be able to attain alone.
Some scholars have used a functional approach to define religion, such as the philosopher Paul Tillich’s view that “religion is whatever organizes a person’s values.” This definition of religion is based on the idea that humans need to create meaning in their lives and find a way to orient themselves to this world. It is also based on the idea that religion serves as an effective response to stress and insecurity. This argument is supported by research that suggests that religiosity declines in times of high unemployment and that death anxiety correlates with religious belief.
Another way to define religion is polythetic, based on the idea that a religion consists of a set of beliefs and practices involving reverence for transcendent entities. For example, Lincoln defines religion as a “system of ideas centered on a transcendent being, with a system of beliefs and practices that claim to manage the lives of believers”. This definition includes both monotheistic and non-monotheistic religions, but excludes those forms of religion that lack a system of beliefs or institutions claiming to be divinely inspired or sanctioned. It is worth noting that the use of this definition of religion has led some scholars to argue that there are no true universal religions.