Religion is an institution whose beliefs and practices give meaning and purpose to life, provide psychological and emotional stability, reinforce social unity and stability, promote physical and mental well-being, help people cope with death and other life events, and may motivate them to work for positive social change. It is also an ideology that teaches values, provides moral and ethical guidelines for behavior, and encourages believers to care about the world around them.
Although religions vary, they generally share certain traits: they usually have a sacred community and place of worship; sacred symbols and objects; a concept of salvation; and a leader or founder who gains godlike status. They also have specific rites and ceremonies, which can be intense experiences. These can include crying, laughing, screaming, trancelike conditions, and a feeling of oneness with those around you.
It takes a lifetime to master any one religion, but you can start with a survey course on world religions or read the Holy Book of the faith that interests you. Also, try to talk with someone of a different religion. This will help you better understand their faith and how they live their lives.
Some critics of religion argue that it is a category that names a set of activities that are all characterized by belief in the same kind of object, and that these activities do not correspond to any real thing that exists outside modern European influence. Others take the opposite position, claiming that it is wrong to assert that any form of life can be regarded as religious when there is no proof that it is true or false. Both of these approaches are called monothetic and polythetic, respectively (see definition of Religion).