Religion plays a significant role in the lives of most people, including non-believers. Religious belief systems and institutions pervade almost every segment of human society and influence attitudes and behaviors that shape how we view and relate with the world and those around us. For many individuals, religious beliefs cultivate a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives, provide comfort in times of difficulty, and offer hope for what lies beyond this life. In addition, much of the legal and normative frameworks that structure our societies are influenced by the moral and ethical codes that ground the world's faith systems.