Religion is a broad and complex phenomenon that encompasses belief in, or devotion to, gods and goddesses and other spiritual beings, rituals, symbols, myths, and traditions. It is found in every culture and serves a variety of functions, including giving meaning and purpose to life, creating and sustaining social cohesion, serving as a source of strength and comfort, providing moral and ethical guidance, and motivating people to work for positive social change.
During the nineteenth century, in the wake of industrialization and secularization in Europe, several social scientists examined the role of religion. Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Karl Marx all wrote about the impact of religion on society. Durkheim and Weber analyzed religion in terms of its function, while Marx wrote that religion is a reaction to working class economic suffering and helps perpetuate inequality in society.
Today, sociologists and anthropologists study religion in many cultures around the world and have developed a variety of theories about its origins and functions. For example, anthropologists have suggested that religion is the result of an evolutionary shift in the human brain from an instinctual focus on survival and basic needs to the development of spirituality. Other scholars, such as Rodney Needham, believe that religion arose from a combination of biological and cultural factors. A third theory is that religion evolved as a response to humans’ realization of their own mortality, which gave rise to belief in a god or gods and rituals designed to ensure a peaceful afterlife.