Religions fulfill a variety of human needs: they promote moral behaviour and provide meaning and purpose in life; they help people cope with death, loss and suffering; they encourage procreation; and they offer explanations for the origin and evolution of life. Religions also give social stability, which is important for humans to live together in large communities and civilizations.
Sociologists study religion by examining the practices, beliefs, and institutions that constitute it. Some of the earliest sociologists used qualitative data, such as ethnographic observation and interviews, to analyze religion. They analyzed how these elements influence individual and community behaviour.
Emile Durkheim was the first sociologist to examine religion in terms of its impact on society. He theorized that religion provides a sense of belonging (social cohesion); promotes behaviour consistency (social control); and offers strength for individuals during life’s tragedies or transitions (emotional support).
Other sociologists have shifted away from the idea that religio has an ahistorical essence. Polythetic definitions identify many properties that are common to all religions without claiming that any of them are essential.
Nevertheless, many scholars have argued that to understand religion as a social genus requires focusing on mental states, rituals and institutions, rather than on beliefs and attitudes. They argue that to do otherwise would ignore the fact that human groups can develop, even when they lack a belief in God or the supernatural. These arguments are still under debate, although some scholars have proposed adding a fourth C to the three-sided model of religion: community.