Religion gives many people a sense of purpose in their life whilst others enjoy studying it as one may study history or medicine. We can find satisfactory answers both beyond and within religion. Anthroplogists speak of religion as that which unites people in a shared experience and explanation of life. Sociologists see religion as that which provides an agreed way of looking at the world. It gives the individual a sense of purpose and meaning.
Historians however understand religion as the cause of events which are the results of beliefs.
Global communication and travel has brought everyone closer together and the world's religions onto our doorstep. In England alone, Christianity is no longer seen as the way but a way amongst the world religions. Many scholars have attempted to what religion is. When disagreements arise over such a definition one can assume either not enough study on the subject has been done or that the subject matter is too vast to be categorised under a single heading. Attempts have also been made to find a common essence in all religion.