Religion is a vast area of human exploration and discovery. Its consequences are enormous, affecting all aspects of human life. It is a system or subsystem of rules, rewards, disapprovals, inspiration, and ideation. In the context of such a system, people are freed from many of their anxieties and uncertainties. The rules and constraints of a religion provide them with a worldview which gives them a sense of security and meaning in their lives, a framework which they can build upon to further explore and discover what might lie beyond.
In addition to providing a worldview, religions protect and transmit the means to attain the most important goals imaginable. These goals may be proximate, relating to this life and its conditions (a wiser, more fruitful, more charitable, more successful way of living), or ultimate, relating to the ultimate end of this or any other person or of the cosmos itself. Religions also map out time: some have a linear view of history, moving from creation to the end of the universe; others have a cyclical view of history, with this life being just one of many in the process of rebirth.
The nature of the deities and their relation to men is another vital aspect of religion, and here again there are various theories. Most of these theories differ in the degree to which they posit a divinity which is omniscient, all-powerful, and loving; some have a more naturalistic approach, based on man’s ability to know God through reason.
Religions also include a wide range of edifying and entertaining literature: the traditional myths, legends, and fables; stories of the providential dealing of God with men; the scriptures containing the authoritative teaching on these things; the texts relating to sacred rites and their prescriptions for exact performance; and speculations on such matters as the soul, retribution, and the future life.
Religious adherence can be found in all parts of the globe, with some of the most observant adherents being in poorer nations. Indeed, Gallup polls show that in countries with an average per-capita income below $2000, 95% of the population report that religion is a significant part of their lives.
The academic study of religion, like the academic study of any other subject matter, requires a range of skills: historical, comparative, interpretive, and so on. Ideally, every student should take at least one course on this subject. In practice, however, this is not possible, given that the vast majority of colleges do not offer courses in the academic study of religion. This does not prevent students, of course, from studying religion as an integral part of their studies in other subjects, and the academic study of religion can be undertaken in any context.