Religion is, in general, the way people deal with ultimate concerns such as their relationships with Gods and spirits or with the broader human community or natural world. It can also be regarded as a collection of practices, experiences, and beliefs that are considered holy, sacred, absolute, or spiritual. Religion may include a belief in one or more deities and often includes scriptures, traditions, teachings, and ceremonies. In more secular forms of religion, people may rely on the natural world for guidance and may regard certain texts or people as having scriptural authority.

Historically, scholars have approached religion from many angles. Anthropologists have looked at tribal and “primitive” societies to try to understand the genesis and functions of religion. They have generally agreed that religion is a combination of myth, ritual, and social structure that is based on beliefs, values, and moral codes that are passed down through generations and endorsed by a central figure.

Psychologists, scientists who study the mind, have taken a different approach. They have suggested that religion fulfills emotional and psychological needs, such as a fear of death or a desire for a meaningful life. Neuroscientists, scientists who study the brain and nervous system, have also contributed to the study of religion. They have found that certain parts of the brain are activated during religious experiences.

In the past few decades, there has been a movement to reflexively examine the concept of religion. Some scholars have tried to separate religion from its cultural context, so that it can be studied objectively. Others have argued that the very idea of religion is itself a construct that distorts our understanding of it.

For example, the word religion is derived from the Latin religio, which simply means “scruples.” This suggests that people may have a lot of religious scruples, and they are concerned to follow the rules and perform the rituals of their religion. In fact, however, for most of human history, the mixture of myth and ritual that we now call religion was deeply woven into the fabric of culture, and most cultures did not even have a word for it.

Many scholars, particularly those who favor the analytical method, have shifted the focus of their work to consider how the concept of religion is constructed. They have urged that instead of concentrating on the hidden mental states that are associated with religion, it is important to also examine the social structures and disciplinary practices that create and sustain religion. This approach, known as structuralism, has been criticised by some scholars who point out that it has a Protestant bias. Others argue that it is not possible to understand religion fully unless it is seen as a complex and that there is a place for the study of religious experience, beliefs, and mental states in such a model. Some have proposed adding a fourth C to the traditional three-sided definition of religion: community. This would allow scholars to examine the way that religion contributes to a sense of belonging.