Religion is a human phenomenon that arises out of the fundamental need for people to have faith in something of value, and to be willing to live according to and even to die for that valuation. Such values can be based on science, family, or anything else that people hold in high regard. However, religious belief and practice is the primary vehicle for the expression of these values, and the means for them to be transmitted from one generation to the next.
Traditionally, the concept of religion has been defined as the belief in spiritual beings and the conduct of religious rituals. Such definitions have been criticized as too narrow, because they exclude a large number of peoples from the category of religion. A more useful approach is that of Edward Burnett Tylor, who argued in 1871 that the belief in spiritual beings exists in all societies. His definition is still widely used.
Another important aspect of religion is the social role it plays. It reinforces and strengthens a sense of community, teaches morality, promotes psychological and physical well-being, and may motivate people to work for positive social change. In general, regular participation in a religious faith is associated with less crime, out-of-wedlock childbirths, drug abuse, and mental illness.
Many of the benefits of religion are rooted in the fact that most religious faiths encourage social interactions, and that such interactions tend to have ritual components that allow people to express their spirituality in a meaningful way. These rituals often include elements such as crying, laughing, screaming, trancelike states, and a feeling of unity with other believers. These are the characteristics of what has been called symbolic interactionism, and they help explain why the most comprehensive studies in the field indicate that most forms of religious practice provide positive benefits to people.