Religion is a voluntary subjection of the soul to the free, supernatural Being (or beings) upon which man is conscious of dependence, of whose powerful help he feels the need, and in whom he recognizes the source of his perfection and happiness. It is accompanied by hope, the expectation of securing and maintaining bliss-bringing communion with the Deity, and by love, a feeling of filial affection for God. In lower forms of it, however, these sentiments are largely or wholly absent.

In the course of human history, religion has made a profound imprint on culture and society in general. It is manifested in many societal features such as sacred days, feasts, ceremonies of marriage and burial, pilgrimages, the wearing of certain clothes or jewellery, and even physical alterations, for example male circumcision. Religious symbols, in particular, have become a major focus of art and literature.

Since the nineteenth century, scholars have studied the phenomenon of Religion from various perspectives. Some have developed a functional approach to the term, following Durkheim’s definition that religion is a feeling of solidarity and the determination of one’s values, while others have tried to develop a more incisive description of the phenomenon by means of prototype theory. In the last few decades, however, there has been a growing trend towards “reflexive” approaches to Religion, in which the idea that all religions are constructed is accepted without implying that they should be treated as the same.