Religion has a complex influence on the lives of most people, even though it can cause conflict and distress. It has been defined in many different ways, but there seems to be a consensus that it includes faith and beliefs about the divine, supernatural or transcendent. It may also include rites, practices and traditions that help people express their beliefs. Almost all religions also stress doing good for others and the community, which can result in positive outcomes such as higher levels of health and happiness.
Although some scholars have argued that there is no such thing as religion, others believe that it is necessary for people to have a faith in something. They say that most people need a sense of meaning and value in their lives, which is what religion provides. Religious people are willing to live according to and even die for what they most value, such as a belief in God or the idea that there is an afterlife.
The debate about what counts as a religion is ongoing. Some people suggest that a definition should be broad enough to encompass all forms of human spirituality, from the primitive ghosts believed in by savages to the ideas of the evolutionary philosopher who thinks of “an Infinite and Eternal Energy.” Other people argue that it is better to treat the concept as a class rather than as a specific entity. They call this a polythetic approach, and they suggest that any definition of religion must have some characteristics that are shared by all members of the class.