Religion is a system of beliefs and practices that gives its adherents an object of devotion, a code of conduct to live by, and a unified worldview. It often involves an understanding of the supernatural or spiritual, about forces and powers beyond human control. It also encourages a sense of moral obligation, and its practice reduces crime, amoral behavior, out-of-wedlock births, drug abuse, and psychological problems. It is an essential part of the lives of two-thirds of the world’s people. It has a significant impact on social policy, psychotherapy, education, and economics. It is a major influence on many of the world’s most powerful nations.

Anthropologists believe that the development of early religion may have developed from human attempts to control uncontrollable aspects of their environment, such as weather and success in hunting. Two different ways have been used to do this: manipulation, through magic; and supplication, through religion. The latter tries to control the environment by appealing to a higher power, gods and goddesses. Early cave paintings show religious supplication and magic attempts to control the environment through various rituals.

The most important characteristic of religion is a devotion to God and the expectation of achieving bliss-bringing communion with Him in heaven. This devotion is based on the concept of Deity as a loving and benevolent personality that attracts confidence, and it is sustained by the belief in Divine revelation. The second most important characteristic of religion is the idea that man can achieve a state of perfection by obedience to Divine commands. This perfection is crudely conceived, but it provides the motivation for obedience and devotion. The third most important characteristic of religion is hope. It is the expectation that by fulfilling the commandments and practicing other religious duties, mankind will be rewarded in heaven for their service and sacrifice.

Philosophers differ on what exactly constitutes religion. Some, such as Edward Tylor, define it as belief in spirits, while others, such as Paul Tillich, distinguish religion by a particular role it serves in life. This functional approach is sometimes referred to as a polythetic definition, since it allows for a wide variety of religious beliefs and practices.

Regardless of how one defines it, most scholars agree that religion is a cultural phenomenon, and that there are certain universal characteristics that all cultures share. In addition, most scholars agree that religion is a complex, and that it consists of a number of interlocking parts. There is, however, a growing trend toward what might be called a “reflexive turn” in the study of religion. This movement has drawn attention to the arbitrary and subjective nature of the concepts that are usually used to describe it, as well as to the fact that the definitions of what is or is not a religion tend to shift over time. This has resulted in a new emphasis on the need to understand how religious phenomena develop, rather than on whether or not they are valid.