Religion is a complex set of beliefs, practices and values that people hold, often with intense conviction. It has historically shaped many aspects of society, including the development of science and philosophy, the arts, economics, politics, and ethics. It is also a source of great personal and communal significance, providing meaning and purpose in life and offering answers to important questions that humans face. Despite the many misconceptions about religion, it is an essential part of our shared human experience.
In the modern world, it is no longer uncommon to find religious believers living side by side with those of no religion, forming communities that coexist peacefully and in complete harmony with one another. This rich diversity of faiths is a tremendous asset to our global society and should be celebrated in the classroom. Students need to understand the nuances of this vast range of religious perspectives and have access to accurate and unbiased resources in order to become active participants in our diverse culture.
There is a vast amount of research that supports the idea that the concept of religion is real and that there are indeed religious phenomena in the world. However, the concept of religion is inherently contested as scholars debate how to define it. While some scholars argue for a strict definition of religion, others take a more functional approach to the study of religion.
For example, some scholars like Clifford Geertz employ hermeneutic methodology when studying cultures and have emphasized the importance of understanding what a symbol or practice means to its adherents as a form of communication. This perspective reflects the fact that many religions use rituals and beliefs as tools to express and reinforce the valuation of something or someone. This valuation is then transmitted to the next generation in the form of a religion.
Other scholars, such as J. Z. Smith, argue that the way we think about the concept of religion leads to an overemphasis on interpreting symbols and behaviors as if they were texts. This interpretation, according to Smith, can distort the actual historical realities. Smith is not, however, a nonrealist because he does not deny that the concept of religion names a social reality.
In contrast to this stipulative approach, some scholars, such as Emile Durkheim, have developed a functional definition of religion that defines it in terms of the role that a form of life can play in human lives. This definition drops the requirement that a religion must believe in a distinct kind of reality, but still focuses on the belief that the distinctive features of religion are necessary to generate social unity. While this approach is functional, it is not universal and does not necessarily account for all forms of religion in the world. It is for this reason that some scholars argue for a polythetic approach to the concept of religion.