Religion is a broad category of beliefs and practices that are characterized in some way by the belief in a supernatural creator or deity, a code of ethics, and a group of believers that share a common set of symbols and rituals. Many of these religious beliefs and traditions have a rich and complex history that has shaped cultures throughout the world. Religious beliefs are often the source of hope and comfort for people, as well as a sense of purpose, identity, and belonging in their lives.
The study of religion is a broad and academically important field of inquiry. It has been influenced by the work of anthropologists, sociologists, historians, psychologists, philosophers, and others. In the late 20th century, sociologists shifted the focus of their research away from trying to find the origins of religion to considering how it functions in human society.
A key question in this new direction was how to define “religion,” given the wide variety of practices that have been described as religions. Some scholars favored monothetic definitions, which fasten on one property that distinguishes religions from other social categories. Others favored polythetic definitions, which recognize that religion is multifactorial and may have many properties that distinguish it from other social categories. Polythetic definitions are increasingly popular because they avoid the claim that an evolving social category has an ahistorical essence.
Whether polythetic or monothetic, the definitions of religions tend to include beliefs about gods or goddesses that are worshipped, a code of ethics, a community of believers, sacred places and objects, sacred writings, ceremonies or rites, a concept of salvation, a leader or founder who gains almost godlike status, and the idea that some of these practices are universal. Often, these religions also claim to have divine messages, either literally (in the form of a book like the Bible for Christianity or Bahaullah’s messages for the Bahai faith) or more symbolically (as with Buddhist teachings).
There are other reasons for studying religion. Some scientists, including psychologists and neuroscientists, believe that religion satisfies certain psychological needs in humans, such as the fear of death or a desire for meaning and purpose. Others, such as sociologist Emile Durkheim, think that religion acts as the “glue” that holds societies together.
It’s important for students to learn about the diversity of religious views in order to promote respect for different religions, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. However, schools should not endorse or encourage the practice of any religion and should instead teach about a range of religious views without bias. The NCSS position statement on religion encourages school leaders to develop policies, learning standards, and curriculum that support the study of religion while maintaining high academic and First Amendment standards.