Religion is a broad term, and scholars use it to describe a range of beliefs and practices. It includes many of the world’s major religious traditions, such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It can also include smaller, regional religions like those of China or ancient Rome. The concept of religion also encompasses some non-religious beliefs and practices, such as agnosticism and atheism.
Religions differ greatly from one another, but most share certain features. They often include a sense of the sacred, a belief in something greater than the self, and rituals or codes of conduct. Some deal with the supernatural or spiritual, and others address questions about life after death. Many religions have a core group of beliefs, a community of believers, and a place of worship. They may also have a priesthood or clergy to guide believers, and they often contain texts that are considered holy.
Some scholars have argued that the academic study of religion should not promote any particular religion. Instead, they advocate academic freedom, which allows scholars to explore religions without imposing their own views. This philosophy has guided the development of departments and programs for religious studies in U. S. public colleges and universities since a 1963 Supreme Court case.
Historically, most attempts to analyze religion have been monothetic, meaning they operate with the classical idea that any object accurately described by a concept will have some defining property that sets it apart from other objects. In recent decades, however, “polythetic” approaches to religion have emerged.
