Defining Religion

Question 1

1. Substantive definitions

Answer 1

• Focus on the substance or content of religious belief.
• To be a religion, a set of beliefs must include belie in god or the supernatural.
• Substantive definitions are exclusive; they draw a clear line between religious and non-religious beliefs.

CRITICISM:
Western bias- excludes religions such as Buddhism, which do not have the Western idea of god.

Question 2

2. Functional definitions

Answer 2

• Focus on what religion does for people; the functions it performs.
• Functionalists share this definition as beliefs are religious if they perform a positive function including:
  → bringing people together in collective worship
  → comfort in times of upset and stress e.g. bereavement
  → guidelines for behaviour e.g. 10 commandments
• Functional definitions are inclusive; they include a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform positive functions.

CRITICISMS:
It is too easy for something to count as a religion e.g. football supporters - matches integrate fans, they all come together in support of their team.

Question 3

3. Social Constructionist Definitions

Answer 3

• Focus on what religion means to each individual person.
• An Interpretivist approach; something is religious if an individual defines it as such.
• There is no single way of defining religion because religion has different meanings for different people.

CRITICISM:
Cannot generalise about the nature of religion, as people have different views about what counts as a religion.