Final answer:
Religious beliefs shape societal norms, practices, and the moral framework, influencing both group and individual identities and guiding a wide range of human actions and thoughts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Learning about people's religious beliefs provides insight into various facets of human life and human nature. Option (a) By establishing cultural norms and practices is the correct answer, as religion plays a significant role in shaping societal norms, practices, and the moral framework within which people operate. Religious beliefs influence group and individual identities, provide shared experiences through places of worship, and guide adherents in thinking and acting on issues ranging from politics to personal ethics.
However, it is critical to approach the study of religion with cultural relativism, understanding beliefs from an insider's perspective and recognizing that religious beliefs can be both personal and part of a social institution. While socialization by religion involves learning material culture, associating life roles with religious celebrations, and experiencing group rituals, it does not solely rest on an individual's internal experience of a divine being as indicated in option (c) from the broader question.