Religion is a set of beliefs and practices that people use to give meaning to their lives, express their moral values, and find guidance on how they should live and behave. Religion usually involves devotion to a higher power, participation in religious institutions, and rituals such as prayer or meditation. Most religions also have codes of conduct or ethics and offer hope for life after death. Religions are often centered around the idea of a god or spiritual concept, but they may also address more abstract issues that science does not address, such as the meaning of life and what happens after death.
Historically, scholars have debated the nature of religion. One approach focuses on what is called the substantive definition of religion, which holds that any belief or practice that meets certain criteria is a part of a religion. Other approaches take a more functional view, such as Emile Durkheim’s definition of religion, which relies on the social function that a belief or practice plays in a society to create solidarity.
A steadily growing body of research shows that regular religious practice benefits individuals, families, communities, and states and nations. Religion improves health, education, economic well-being, self-control, esteem, and empathy. It also reduces the incidence of a variety of social pathologies, including out-of-wedlock births, crime, delinquency, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health problems. In addition, most religions emphasize doing good for family members, friends, community and others, which often leads to involvement in charity organizations.