Religion is a system of beliefs, values and practices that is central to the lives of many people around the world. It often provides a sense of meaning and purpose in life, and it is a source of moral guidance. It can also help to provide stability in the face of change and conflict. It can unite families and communities, and it may foster social cohesion and solidarity. In addition, it can serve to control behavior, provide support for the vulnerable, and promote physical and mental well-being. However, religion can also cause problems, such as a lack of trust, divisions among family members, and discrimination against those who do not share religious beliefs or practices.

Sociologists study religion to understand its role in society and how it can reinforce inequality and other problems. The functionalist perspective, for example, holds that religion serves several important functions: (a) providing a sense of purpose and meaning in life; (b) reinforcing social cohesion and stability; (c) promoting health and well-being; and (d) motivating people to work for positive social change.

In this perspective, religion is seen as a social genus that has evolved in cultures around the world to meet human needs. It may vary in its basic doctrines and beliefs, but it shares certain universal features, such as rituals, symbols, myths, and a belief in a transcendent order. This view of religion is not universal, as there are people in the world who do not believe in a god or an afterlife. These people have a different type of spirituality that can be described as a religion, but it does not include traditional views of a supernatural being or cosmological orders.

Some scholars have criticized the use of functionalist definitions to describe religion. They argue that it is unfair to focus on invisible, psychological states and that focusing instead on institutional structures and disciplinary practices would be more appropriate. They point out that there are many disciplines that study religion and each has its own approach: psychology looks at beliefs and feelings; sociology studies the institutions of a religion and their relationship to its beliefs and values; and anthropology examines culture through its artifacts.

Despite these arguments, the functionalist perspective remains a powerful one. It has shaped the development of social science theories about religion and has been influential in the fields of archaeology, history, anthropology, and other disciplines that study culture. Its influence on social thought has been augmented by the growth of scientific knowledge about other societies and by advances in sociology, history, and ethnography. It has been superseded, however, by a more holistic approach that recognizes the complex nature of religiosity and its importance to humans. This newer view encompasses both functionalist and phenomenological approaches. It also integrates the work of other disciplines, such as sociology and anthropology, with the work of historical and anthropological historians. It is a more accurate, and more useful, approach than the monothetic definitions offered above.