Religion is a concept that identifies a large and varied taxon of social formations. It is the label used to classify Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism among other examples. However, the term has been applied to a range of beliefs and practices in human history that were not so organized or hierarchical. Thus, historians of religion have had to use the concept in a flexible and analytical manner.
The most basic definition of religion focuses on the belief in something transcendent: an afterlife, spiritual beings, an ultimate order that exists beyond the realm of the natural. Other scholars have used a functional approach, defining religion as the beliefs and practices that generate social cohesion or provide orientation in life. This approach has been especially influential in the social sciences.
In addition to focusing on transcendent entities, religions also address basic moral questions and concerns, such as good and evil, life and death. They may offer specific rituals and symbolic practices to deal with these concerns, such as a sacrament or prayer. They may have specific places of worship, such as a church or mosque.
Religion has a profound influence on people, shaping their culture and values. It can unite and bring peace to societies, but it can also divide and create hostility. Throughout human history, religions have been both instruments of liberation and of oppression, sometimes in collaboration with or even in antagonism to the state. The regular practice of religions is associated with many positive outcomes, including greater levels of health, learning and economic well-being, as well as self-control, empathy and a sense of community. It can also help to reduce the incidence of such social pathologies as out-of-wedlock births, violence and crime, illiteracy, drug abuse and delinquency.