Religion is a cultural system of behaviors, beliefs and ethics. It includes perspectives on the existence of a supreme being or gods and their role within human life, and sacred histories, narratives, and mythologies (which may include accounts of the origins of the universe and of human life). It also includes sacred texts, symbols, and holy places, as well as rituals, ceremonies, feasts, and holidays.
For many people, religion is a source of meaning and value in their lives. It can be a source of personal and communal identity, and can help them deal with the problems of life, such as death and suffering. It can be a source of hope and joy, as well as a force for peace and justice in the world. But it can also be a source of intolerance, cruelty, bigotry, social oppression and self-opinionated nastiness.
It is important to understand the different religions of the world, so that you can have an informed discussion about them with your friends and family. There are a few ways to do this: 1. Take an online course. Many colleges offer classes online that can fit your schedule. 2. Attend a community lecture. Many communities, especially those with a diverse population, sponsor lectures from different religious leaders.
It has long been the dominant view that religions should be studied as a set of practices, beliefs and institutions. But recent years have seen the emergence of “polythetic” approaches, which reject the classical view that each instance of a religion will share a single defining property. These approaches treat the concept of religion as a complex, and look for patterns and co-appearances that can lead to explanatory theories about it.