Religion has shaped our culture, society, history and current political landscape. With more than 4000 religions worldwide it is a widespread and significant topic that most people can relate to in one way or another. Even for those who don’t prescribe to traditional religion, there are plenty of ways to connect to the topic of religion or even how it doesn’t relate to you.
The importance of fact-checking, reliable sources, and impartiality cannot be overstressed when talking about writing an essay on religion. Fact-checking and using reliable sources will help you make sure you’re not making incorrect or biased claims. Religion is one of the more divisive topics you can choose for an essay, and repeating biased and untrue information can get you into a heap of trouble or, at the very least, alienate your audience.
When finding sources, you can do a CRAAP test to reassure yourself that the source can be trusted. Before using a source, ask yourself if it is:
Current- Is the information outdated?
Relevant- Is this related to your topic, or completely out of left field?
Authoritative- Who published this, and what are their credentials?
Accurate- Is there evidence or other support for these claims?
Purposeful- What is the purpose of this publication? What is it aiming to do?
The structure of an essay on religion will most often fall under the classic structure of a piece, with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You may choose a different format depending on the subset of the paper you chose (narrative, argumentative, expository, etc..…).
Religion is a worldwide subject that’s as old as our society, so there’s plenty to talk about. Lean into the topic, research it well, and go as broad or narrow as you want.
Topics you can cover in a religion essay include:
• Religion’s impact on world history
• Church and state in the modern world
• Polytheism VS monotheism
• Psychology of religion: How it affects a person’s life and views
• Interreligious dialogue
• Will religions ever disappear?
• Little-known religions
If you still don’t know how to start, essay examples on this page may help you set your thoughts and start writing.