Religion gives meaning and purpose to life, reinforces social unity and stability, serves as an agent of social control, promotes psychological and physical well-being, and may motivate people to work for positive social change.
It can be a comforting force or a frightening one (Acevedo and Thompson 2013, Winkelman 1998). Religious rituals and ceremonies can also involve trancelike conditions, tears, laughter, screaming, and other intense feelings.
Religions are groups of morals, beliefs, practices, and symbols that are almost always under the supervision of a central authority or institution. They are organised ways of man’s communion with God Almighty and usually include Prayer, a holy text to read, and celebrations across the year.
Many people believe that a God created the universe and each religion has a unique way of worshipping this God through a range of rituals. This can include things such as praying from home or attending a church or temple.
Some religions have a set of rules or ceremonies that are followed by followers in order to get God’s blessing and approval. Others have no specific rules or ceremonies and a person’s relationship with God is based on their personal preferences and what they find meaningful to them.
There are many disciplines that study religions cross-sectionally in order to understand their basic patterns or structures. These disciplines include psychology, sociology, and social anthropology.