Religion is a belief system that deals in some way with salvation, usually in a spiritual sense, such as heaven or hell after death in Christianity or attaining nirvana in Buddhism. It typically also deals in some way with worship and a set of practices that help to unite believers into a moral community. In addition, it often involves a sacred book and a clergy or priesthood that administers the beliefs and rituals of the religion. It may include sacred rites and symbols, and it is generally believed that some days or times are more holy than others.
The study of religion has long been an important part of the humanities and social sciences. The work of anthropologists and archaeologists has stimulated much new thinking about the role of religion in primitive societies and about the emergence of religion in general.
In more recent years, scholars have begun to pull back and look at the religions they are studying with a more critical eye. This has led to a “reflexive turn” in the study of religion, and this has helped scholars understand that the concept of what is considered a religion can shift over time and is not a natural phenomenon found in all cultures.
Scholars have developed several different definitions of the term religion. One of the most basic is a lexical definition, which looks at what the word is used to mean in common language and then attempts to determine whether this matches up with the historical use of the term. Another approach is to attempt to define what is a religion by looking at the different roles that a particular religion plays in society, such as providing a sense of community or giving guidance through difficult times.
A third approach is to try to develop a definition that will enable the study of religions, including those that no longer exist or have been abandoned. This method, which has been used by sociologists and others, seeks to examine the beliefs and values of a religious tradition in order to determine what makes it a religion.
The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) urges school administrators, textbook publishers, and other content creators to include material that reflects a variety of religious beliefs and practices in their textbooks, online resources, and curriculum materials. This material should be balanced with the study of those religions that have been historically significant and are still being practiced in the world today. NCSS also encourages state education leaders to develop policies and learning standards for the study of religion that are consistent with high academic standards and First Amendment principles. These materials should be used in the classroom to stimulate discussion and exploration of the many religious faiths in our society. They should also allow students to gain an understanding that the choice of a religion is a personal, individual decision, and to encourage the value of open inquiry and diversity of opinion.