Topic 1- Theories of religion

Question 1

What are the three definitions of religion?

Answer 1

• Substantive
• Functional
• Constructionist

Question 2

Substantive defintion

Answer 2

• These focus on the content or substance of religious belief, such as belief in God or the supernatural.
• For example, Weber defines religion as belief in a superior or supernatural power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically.
• To be a religion, a set of beliefs must include a belief in God or the superatural.
• AO3- leaves no room for beliefs and practices hat perform similar functions to religion but do not involve in God.

Question 3

Functional definition

Answer 3

• Rather than defining it in terms of specific inds of belief, functional definitions define it in terms of the social or psyhological functions it perform for individuals or society.
• For example, Durkheim dfeines it in terms of the social contribution it makes to social intergration, rather than any specific belief in God or the supernatural.
• AO3 Eval
  -Inclusive -> including a wide range of beliefs , and practice sthat perform functions such as intregration.
  -However, just because an institution helps intergrate individuals into groups, this does not make it a religion (collective chanting at football matches might give as sense of intergration but is not a religion).

Question 4

Constructionist definition

Answer 4

• Social constructionists take an interpretivist thay focuses on how members of society themselves define religion.
• They argue that is is not possible to produce a single universal definiton of religion that will cover all cases, since in reality different individuals and groups mean very differeny things by ‘religion’.
• Alridge shows how, for its followers, socientology is a religion, whereas several governments have denied it legal status as a religion and sought to ban it.
• AO3 eval
• Allows them to get close to the meanings people themselves give to religion.
• However, this makes it impossible to generalise about the nature of religion, since people may have widely differing views about what counts as a religion.

Question 5

Functionalist theories: Overall functionalist theory of religion

Answer 5

Religion contributes to social solidarity and integration, and adds value to people’s lives.

Question 6

Functionalist theories: Durkheim- The sacred and profane

Answer 6

• The key feature of religion was not a belief in gods, spirits or the supernatural, but a fundamental distinction between the sacred and the profane found in all religions.
• The fact that the scared things evoke such a powerful feelings in believers indicates to Durkheim that this because they are symbols representing something of great power.
• In his view, this thing can only be society itself, since society is the only thing powerful enough to command susch feelings. When they worship the scared symbols, therefore, people are worshipping socciety itself.

Question 7

Functionalist theories: Durkheim- Totemism

Answer 7

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