Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasising systematic, historically-based, and cross-cultural perspectives.

While theology attempts to understand the intentions of a supernatural force (such as deities), religious studies tries to study human religious behavior and belief from outside any particular religious viewpoint. Religious studies draws upon multiple disciplines and their methodologies including anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history of religion.

For religiously inspired works which are not considered scripture see Category:Religious literature