Religion is referred to as a system of beliefs, practices, and values concerned with the sacred.

It is related to the supernatural entities and powers which are considered as the ultimate concern of all mundane existence among human groups. Religion addresses the following question.

1. How does religion reinforce the collective unity of a social group through religious worship and rituals?
2. How does religion block the emotional and intellectual development of people? 3. How is a particular type of economic system (say capitalism) , the product of a specific religious ideology? 4. Is one religion (say Hinduism) more tolerant and accomodative than another religion?

5. What is the effect on a persons way of life of being religiously described as an untouchable?
6. Is there something in the belief systems of two sects of the same religion (say, Shias and Sunnis in Islam) which makes conflict between them inevitable ? 7. Does religion oppose family planning measures?

Different religions in India: 1. According to the 1991census , Hindus:82.41% (including SCs & STs ), Muslims:12.12%

Christians:2.30%
Sikhs:1.84% Buddhists:60% Jains:.44% Others:.29%

Distribution among the States: Hindus are minority in Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram ,Manipur ,Nagaland, and Lakshadweep.
Muslims predominate in J & K, Assam, and West Bengal.

Functions of religion: Explanatory function: Explains why, what etc.,relating to the mystery. Integrative functions: Provides support amid failure and frustration. Identity function :Provides a basis of maintenance of relationship for security and identity. Validating function: Provides moral justification and powerful sanctions to all basic institutions. Control function: Holds in check divergent forms of deviance. Expressive function: Provides for satisfaction of painful drives. Prophetic function: Expressed in protest against established conditions.

Maturation function: Providing recognition to critical terms in an individuals life history.

Wish fulfilment function: Covering both latent and manifest wishes.

Basic tenets of Hinduism: 1. Theological ideas: Hinduism believes in certain theological ideas (a series of theories about the nature of god and of the foundations of religious belief, such as rebirth,immortality of soul, sin, merit ,deeds , morality and salvation. 2.Pollution and purity :They are evident in touching or maintaining physical distance from the members of other group,in inter caste marriages, and in personal life of an Individual on occasions like birth , marriage ,death., offering prayers etc.

3.Hierarchy:It exists in terms of a) division in varnas and castes b) in charismatic qualities of individuals,ie Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas c) in values regarding life goals like Kama, artha, dharma,and moksha.

4. Idol worship:The common idols are Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Ganesh etc who are worshipped in temples and untouchable castes were not allowed to enter the temple. Idea was protecting the temple from pollution.
5.Monolithic character: The major characteristics of Hinduism is that not of a uniform monolithic religion (god) but it is having a flexibility. 6.Tolerance:tolerating opinions, beliefs, customs , behaviour of other religions.

7.Segregation:Hinduism supports the segregation of castes in social relations, worship and religious beliefs.

8. Non violence: It was characterised in Hinduism only after devotional and ritual aspect of Hinduism was emphasised or Vaishnavism and Saivism cults emerged after the twelfth century A.D.