Definitions of religion

Question 1

Substantive definitions

Answer 1

• focus on content/substance of religious belief eg God/supernatural
• WEBER - religion is a belief in a superior/supernatural power that is above nature/cannot be explained scientifically
• definitions are exclusive - draw clear lines between (non)religious beliefs
• to be a religion, beliefs must include God/supernatural
• leaves no room for beliefs that perform similar function to religion but no belief in God
• definitions accused of Western bias - exclude mainstream religions eg Buddhism

Question 2

Functional definitions

Answer 2

• defined in terms of the social/psych functions they perform for society/individuals
  DURKHEIM - religion contributes to social integration, rather than specific belief in God/supernatural
  YINGER - identifies the functions that religion performs for individuals eg answering qn about life after death
• defs are inclusive - allow wide range of beliefs, no western bias
  *just because an institution helps integrate individuals into groups, doesn’t mean it’s a religion eg collective chanting at football matches

Question 3

Constructionist definitions

Answer 3

• interpretivist approach
• it’s not poss to produce a single, universal def to cover all cases since diff individuals/groups mean diff things by ‘religion’
  ALDRIGE - scientology is a religion for its followers, whereas gvt denied its legal status as a religion and sought to ban it
• don’t assume religion always involves belief in God or that it performs similar functions for everyone in all societies
  *impossible to generalise about nature of religion, since people have widely differing views about what counts as a religion

Question 4

Theories of religion

Answer 4

CONSERVATIVE FORCE
- build/maintain social solidarity/stability
- protects traditional values and existing state of affairs in society or values, and the ways of life that may be at risk of disappearing
SOCIAL CHANGE
- how religious beliefs/organisations can change society - move it forward
- not just acting as a conservative force/moving society backwards to the way it was previously