Religion is an organized system of beliefs and rituals that center on a supernatural being or beings. Having an understanding of religion can help you understand the world and people around you.
Religion can have positive effects on your life. It can help you develop a sense of community and belonging, increase your happiness, and give you new spiritual experiences that make your life more meaningful.
Studying religion can also help you learn about other cultures and beliefs. Learning about different faiths can increase your understanding of the world and can be a fun way to meet new people.
Educating students about religion is important for preparing them to live in an increasingly religious world (Emerson, Monahan, & Mirola, 2011). It can help you understand how religion shapes our society, reinforces inequality and other social problems, and motivates people to act for good social change.
The most basic definition of religion is the effective desire to be in right relations to the power manifesting itself in the universe, that is, to have a harmonious relation with a power which objectively conceived is able to affect human behavior. This desire is the motive for all conscious religious activity, such as prayer and fasting.
The root of all religions is a single perception of a divine, spiritual, or sacred power that manifests itself in the world and which people have a feeling of dependence on. It is this perception and that feeling of dependence which gives rise to the desire for right relations.