"Religion was the original field of dream study. The earliest writings we have on dreams are primarily texts on their religious and spiritual significance."
-- Kelly Bulkeley "Why Study Dreams? A Religious Studies Perspective"

Dreams play integral roles in virtually all of the world's religious and cultural traditions . They shape and are shaped by the beliefs of the people who experience them, differing and changing according to the cultural and religious beliefs. Many people study dreams to gain valuable insights into the concerns of humankind, and that is true cross-culturally. Before dreams were studied by scientists, researchers, and analysts, they were used in a variety of ways: spiritual guidance, intellectual exploration, communication with the divine, and interpersonal negotiation. When dreams are interpreted through a cultural lens, their contents, imagery, and themes become clearer. The study of dreams must consider a their origin in religions and the cultures from which they spring.