Religion is complex and can be a source of conflict and stress. But it is also good for society by improving health, learning, economic well-being, self-control, reducing prejudices, and promoting empathy and social cohesion. It can even reduce out-of-wedlock births, crime, and drug abuse.
But what is religion exactly? It is a contested concept and it is widely used in different ways by different disciplines including anthropology, history, philosophy, sociology, religious studies, and psychology.
Some think of it as a taxon, a way to sort cultural types based on their similarities. Others see it as a set of practices that includes beliefs, values, ceremonies and rites, and a worldview with an associated morality. Still others see it as a category-concept, the paradigmatic examples of which are Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
The most common view is that of a system that gives meaning and purpose to life, strengthens social unity and stability, serves as an agent of social control, and promotes psychological and physical well-being. It may also motivate people to work for positive social change.
In a more philosophical vein, some think of it as the human attitude towards a sacred order, the sigh of the oppressed creature and the heart of what might otherwise be (and often has been) a heartless world (Peter Berger). Finally, many see it as an inward exploration of human possibility, known as somatic exploration derived from Greek soma for “body.” It encompasses concepts such as enlightenment, balance, emptiness, or nirvana.