definitions of religion Flashcards
1
Q
SUBSTANTIVE definitions
A
- they focus on the content of religious belief systems
- e.g. WEBER; defines religion as a belief in superior/supernatural power that is above nature and cant be explained scientifically
- TYLOR; religion is humanity’s attempt to understand the soul and STAR and BAINBRIDGE agree
2
Q
evaluation of SUBSTANTIVE definitions
A
- it provides narrow definitions because it draws a clean definition to be a religion you must have a belief in God.supernatural
- so it exclude certain religions like Buddhism who do not have the idea of a God
3
Q
FUNCTIONAL definitions
A
- they focus on what you would get out of the religion
- e.g. DURKEIM defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social integration which achieves social solidarity
4
Q
evaluation of FUNCTIONAL definitions
A
+ inclusive; allows us to include wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions e.g. integration
+ they don’t specify a belief in God/supernatural so there is no bias against Western religions
- just because a belief system integrates individuals into groups doesn’t make them a religion
e. g. chanting at football matches give people a sense of integration but it doesn’t make them a religion
5
Q
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST definitions
A
- they take on an interpretivist approach that focus that a religion is anything you want it to be
- e.g. ALDRIDGE; Scientology is a religion even if governments have denied its legal status as religion
6
Q
evaluation of SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONIST definitions
A
+ they don’t assume that religion always involves a belief in God/supernatural or it performs similar functions for everyone
+ approach allows them to get close to the meanings
- impossible to generalise about the nature of religion since people hold different views about what counts as a religion