Religion. No simple definition can describe the many religions in the world. Every society has a religion. For many people, religion is an organized system of beliefs, rituals (acts and ceremonies), personal practices, and worship directed toward a supreme power or deity (god). For others, religion involves a number of gods or deities. Some people follow religions that worship no specific god or gods. There are also people who practice their own religious beliefs in a personal way, largely independent of any organized religion.
Almost all people who participate in a religion believe that a divine power is at work in the world. Some believe that this power created the world and can influence their lives in various ways. Others believe that the goal of human life is to live in harmony with this power.
In its most basic sense, religion deals with primary concerns: What is the purpose of life? What is the final destiny of human beings and animals? What is the difference between right and wrong? What is the meaning of suffering and evil? What are a person's obligations to other people and to the world?
People practice religions for many reasons. Some anthropologists believe that the religious impulse may be one of the most fundamental traits of the human species. Throughout the world, many people follow a religious tradition simply because it is part of the heritage of their nation, culture, tribe, ethnic group, or family. One objective of religion is to give groups a sense of identity and purpose.
Religion can provide a sense of personal security in a confusing world because believers feel that a supreme power, God, watches over them. Believers may request help or protection from their god or gods through prayer or ritual.
Many people follow a religion because it promises them happiness in life or in some kind of life after death, or they believe it will save them from eternal damnation. The prospect of an afterlife also offers hope to those who suffer in this life. Religion provides individual fulfillment in this way and helps people to understand their place in the universe.
There are thousands of religions in the world. The three religions with the most followers are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Other religions include Buddhism, Confucianism, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, and Taoism. Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism developed over many centuries. Many other religions base their faith on the lives or teachings of specific individuals. They include for Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as Gautama Buddha; for Christianity, Jesus, known as Jesus Christ; for Confucianism, Confucius; for Islam, Muhammad; for Jainism, Mahavira; for Judaism, Abraham and Moses; and for Sikhism, Nanak.
The religions that trace their history to individuals follow a general pattern of development. During the individual's lifetime or soon after his death, a distinctive system of worship and ceremonies developed, based on the individual's life and teachings. In addition to inspiring worship, the individual represented an ideal way of life that followers tried to imitate.
The teachings of religions have shaped the lives of people since prehistoric times. Judaism, Islam, and especially Christianity have been major influences in the formation of Western culture. These religions are called Religions of the Book because they all are at least partly inspired by the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. These three faiths, particularly Islam, have also played a crucial role in the development of Middle Eastern and African culture. The cultures of Asia have been shaped by Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Shinto, and Taoism.
Religion has been a supreme source of inspiration in the arts. In ancient times, almost all art was probably religious in nature. Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are houses of worship. Much of the world's greatest music is religious. Religious stories have provided countless subjects for paintings, sculptures, literature, theater, dances, and motion pictures.
