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anthropologists assume that there must be solid underlying reasons for the endurance of religion. They try to dig underneath the literal claims of religion to find its metaphorical meaning and latent social function.

Religions reinforce group norms, supporting social solidarity. They establish a coherent world view undergirded by divine power. They help establish social control by defining right and wrong behavior, and passing on stories which provide precedents for admirable acts. Religious beliefs provide shape and meaning to human experience, imposing a sense of order on the chaos of life. They provide understanding and meaning for inexplicable events, help relieve anxieties about sickness, death and the unknown, and give adepts some hope of influencing the course of their lives by appealing to supernatural powers. The performance of rituals creates a sense of the sacred, providing orderliness, meaning, comfort, and feelings of exaltation.

Religions lift some of the burden of decision-making from the shoulders of the faithful by telling them what is right and what is wrong. They fulfil social needs and create a sense of identity and belonging. Religious values seep into the culture at large, affecting even the most profound skeptic. The study of humankind would not be complete without an exploration of the form, function and meaning of religious organizations and traditions.

Sources and resources:
http://www.as.ua.edu /ant/Faculty/murphy/419/419www .htm
Compendium of websites about the anthropology of religion

http://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Anthropology_of_religio n
Wikipedia entry

http://anthro.palomar.edu /religion/default.htm
Tutorial on the anthropology of religion

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