Religion is a concept that has long been used to describe a broad taxon of social formations, including those of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It can also be applied to practices that are not given a specific name, such as atheism, agnosticism, and naturalism. In the strictest sense, however, it describes the human vocation of acknowledging dependence on Deity and expressing that dependency through acts of homage. This vocation calls into play not just the will but the intellect and imagination and, in lower forms of religion at least, the emotions as well. The recognition of the unseen world stirs the imagination, and the knowledge that it is possible to find aid and peace in friendly communion with a protector so good and powerful engenders hope.
Most attempts to analyze the concept of religion have used a monothetic approach, according to which every instance accurately described by a concept will have one property that distinguishes it from other instances. More recently, scholars have begun to use a more open polythetic model.
An easy way to learn about different religions is to attend religious services. This will give you a chance to see how they practice their beliefs and interact with each other. This is also a great opportunity to have conversations with people of other faiths and ask them questions about their religion. The more you talk to people of other religions, the more you will understand how they think and how they are different from your own.