Comparative religion is a field within religious studies that focuses on comparing ideas and motifs across different religions. This type of research aims to uncover and contrast the philosophical concepts underlying various faiths, such as metaphysics and ethics, and the nature and purpose of diverse religious practices. A comparative perspective allows for a broader and deeper understanding of the nature of religious belief and the relationships between sacred and secular, spirit and matter, human and divine. In comparative studies of Eastern and Western religions, the focus is typically on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as Western religions, contrasted with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism as Eastern religions.