4pillars belief- mappings of reality, worldviews ritual- sanctity important social activities (birth, marriage, death, daily needs, war) Studying the conequneces of these beliefs/practices communities- group identitied, rlg as boundary maintenance. Religions come in groups- generally ppl enter into rlgs existence through group membership. Rlg also defines your group- the primary mechanism for solidarity b/c it binds members but also pits them against other members. Social groups use rlg to regulate who enters/leaves their group. Rlg as worldview /culture--- as institutions & roles--- shape, influence, and reform beliefs, practices, identities, etc. historically and culturally variable social psychologies, persons , communities. Religious institutionalization- the formation of communities & orgs (faith traditions, cults, sects, etc); formation of sacred roles, priestly or clerical orders, ay followers, sacred texts; sacred rituals, forms of worship etc. Religion is embedded or interdependent w/ other institutions and cultural domains-: w/ kinship politics economics wat education art science etc.