Religion provides many comforts to people, including a sense of meaning and purpose in life, and a structure for coping with adversity. It also can foster social cohesion, a sense of community and a shared identity that transcends individual differences. It can also serve as a source of virtuous behavior and a basis for moral judgment. In fact, research has shown that religious practice can reduce stress, diminish anxiety and stabilize emotional variability, all of which are positive outcomes in the lives of individuals and society as a whole.
The term “religion” is used to refer to a variety of different practices, beliefs and experiences that people use to organize their values and their lives. The concept of religion is a complex one, and the various theories that have been proposed to explain it have produced widely varying definitions. Some of the definitions are lexical, meaning that they are intended to describe what a particular religious practice is like, while others are more abstract, attempting to capture some underlying essence of religion.
Many anthropologists, scientists who study human societies and human origins, believe that religion evolved as a response to the biological or cultural need of humans to deal with uncontrollable aspects of existence. These include the fact that human beings are mortal and will eventually die, and a desire to find a way to avoid death or, if this is not possible, a chance to go on to a better place after death.
A less scientific but more philosophical approach to religion is to see it as a social taxon, a category that encompasses a broad range of different behaviors and experiences. This theory was popularized by the sociologists Emil Durkheim and Paul Tillich, who both advocated for a functional definition of religion that is independent of whether or not it involves belief in any unusual realities.
Man aims at religion, according to this view, because he feels helpless in the face of suffering and loss, and he recognizes that friendly communion with the Deity will bring him relief and happiness. In the lower forms of religion, this goal is crudely conceived and may be merely to achieve some gain, but even in such cases there are beginnings of a filial affection for the Deity.
The role of religion in the lives of Americans is a central issue in our democracy, and it should be treated with respect by those who govern us. For example, the President and the Senate should choose judges who understand that there is a place for religion in our government and will not crowd it out of every activity in which the federal government is involved. The same is true for local governments and businesses.