Religion is the voluntary subjection of self to God. It exists in its highest perfection in heaven, where the angels and saints love, praise, and adore God, and live in absolute conformity to His holy will. On earth it labors under serious defects.
Most religions are concerned not only with the life of man on earth, but also with his ultimate destiny. They encourage him to seek wisdom, fruitfulness, charity, and the best possible human qualities. Their moral teachings, based on divine revelation, give him direction and meaning in his life. They help him to make a good start and to keep going, in order to achieve proximate goals (the attainment of a wiser, more fruitful, more charitable, and more successful way of life), and ultimate ones (such as achieving the heavenly rewards or punishments that await him).
Some scholars, such as Durkheim, define religion functionally, as a set of beliefs and practices that create solidarity among members of a society. Others, such as Paul Tillich, define it axiologically, as the dominant concern that organizes a person’s values (whether or not those concerns include belief in unusual realities).
All religions have unique features of their own. In addition to the spiritual guidance they provide, many have social and practical benefits for their followers. For example, almost all religions encourage people to care for others, which can result in them joining prosocial organizations like charities and hospitals. In addition, some studies have found that religious people tend to be healthier than those who do not belong to any church.