Religion is a broad category that encompasses beliefs, practices and experiences that are held as sacred. Many of these practices include prayer, meditation and rituals that are meant to create a spiritual connection to a higher power. Religion is also a social activity that brings people together and can help to foster feelings of belonging and support.

Throughout history, the concept of religion has taken on many different meanings. In Western antiquity, the word religio was used to describe a kind of scrupulous devotion that is now better described as a belief system. In the modern era, however, the concept of religion has been retooled to mean a type of social practice or cultural phenomenon. It is now commonly used as a taxon for sets of belief systems, with the paradigmatic examples being Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.

The study of religion has traditionally been a social science but it is increasingly being approached by scientists, too. Psychologists and neuroscientists, for example, have argued that religion serves emotional and psychological needs in humans, including the fear of death or a desire to gain meaning and purpose in life. They have suggested that religion may also serve as a protective mechanism, and that the experience of a religious experience can trigger a kind of spiritual enlightenment.

There are also scientific interpretations of religion that seek to explain its origins and functions using principles from biology or the physical sciences. Biologically, the meme theory proposes that culture, including religion, can be passed from one person to another in much the same way that genes are passed from parent to child. Similarly, the theory of evolution by natural selection suggests that a belief system with strong enough social support can become dominant over other competing traditions and become a new religion.

It is widely agreed that religion has an important place in the lives of most humans, and that it plays a critical role in shaping cultures. For this reason, it is essential for students to be exposed to the full range of religious beliefs and practices that are part of our diverse world. Resources that offer first-person accounts of what it’s like to live as a member of a particular religion will provide an invaluable educational experience for students.

The use of textbooks that rely on dates and doctrines to teach about religion is an outdated approach that can leave students unprepared for our increasingly multicultural society. Look for resources that go beyond the standard “dates and doctrines” approach to religion to offer detailed, fact-based analysis of current events; descriptions of the variety of contemporary beliefs and practices; and lessons that allow students to participate in group discussion or to share their own artistic creations. The more students can contribute to their learning about religious diversity, the more engaged they will be. This is especially important when it comes to online courses that take the form of a virtual classroom.