Religion is a complex and deeply rooted system of beliefs, rituals, moral codes, and traditions that connect individuals and communities to a higher power or transcendent reality. Religious beliefs differ greatly among groups and cultures, but they often include explanations of the origin of the universe, human life, and the afterlife. Whether viewed as a source of strength or stress, religion has a powerful influence on the lives of humans worldwide.
In the academic study of religion, scholars have devoted considerable time to trying to nail down a definition for the term. A common approach involves examining what types of social practices fall under the umbrella of religion. This approach is often called a functional definition. Its advantage is that it allows for a broad range of religious experiences to be considered, even those that don’t involve beliefs in a distinctive kind of reality. However, this definition has its disadvantages, too. For one thing, it can lead to an arbitrary distinction between what is and isn’t a religion.
Another approach involves examining the beliefs, values, and practices of a group or culture and analyzing the effect that those religious elements have on their members’ lives. This approach can help to identify what religion is and isn’t, but it doesn’t give much insight into how religious elements might change or be adapted over time.
A third way to examine religion involves looking at the relationships between people and the natural world around them. This approach considers how the activities and beliefs of a group affect their relationship with nature, themselves, and other people. It can also highlight how environmental concerns are woven into the beliefs of a religion.
All of these approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. The problem with many of them is that they tend to view religion as a social construct, a phenomenon created by humans for their own purposes. This perspective is sometimes referred to as a critical theory of religion. It argues that the way the concept of religion has been used has distorted our understanding of historical realities.
As a teacher, you will need to choose resources that reflect the diversity of beliefs and values in today’s society. Avoid textbooks that take a standard “dates and doctrines” approach to religion, which may help students with standardized tests but won’t adequately prepare them to live in a multicultural world. Look for resources that offer detailed, fact-based analyses of current events; descriptions of the complexities and nuances of modern-day religious beliefs, values, and behaviors; and first-person accounts of what it’s like to belong to a particular belief system. The more you can encourage students to participate in learning about different religious beliefs, the more engaged they will be. This can be done through group discussions, independent artistic creations (such as drawings, music, and poetry), or by exploring a religion’s website.