Religion is one of the most universal human experiences and needs. It is practiced by nearly 6.5 billion people in the world, and it is a source of many different beliefs, rituals, and social institutions. It also serves a wide variety of functions, such as giving meaning and purpose to life, promoting morality and social stability, encouraging self-control, bolstering personal and family well-being, and providing support during tragedy. Although religious practices and beliefs can reinforce inequality and conflict in society, they also offer a powerful resource for creating positive social change.
Anthropologists believe that religion developed out of early humans’ attempts to control the uncontrollable parts of their environment, such as weather or success in hunting. They tried to do this in two different ways: manipulation (through magic) and supplication (through religion). Magic attempts to make the environment directly subject to human will, such as drawing pictures of animals on cave walls to assure success in hunting. Religion, on the other hand, tries to gain control by appealing to divine forces.
After the emergence of the first historical religions, for example, in Egypt and Mesopotamia, many scholars came to see that all religions share certain basic elements, including worship, devotions, morality, and participation in social or political institutions. Therefore, they began to use the term “religion” to describe all of these different beliefs and practices. However, today’s sociologists do not all agree on what “religion” means. Nevertheless, many of them agree that religions have a significant impact on societies and individuals.