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15 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the three definitions of religion? |
Substantive Functional Social Constructionist |
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Define a substantive definition of religion. |
Focus is on the context or substance of religious belief, such as belief in a God or the supernatural. |
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How does Weber (1905) define religion? |
Religion is the belief in a superior supernatural power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically. |
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Are substantive definition exclusive or inclusive? Why? |
Exclusive; they draw a clear line between religious and non-religious beliefs as to be a religion a set of beliefs must include belief in God or the supernatural. |
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What's a problem with substantive definitions? |
Leaves no room for beliefs and practises that perform similar functions to religion but do not involve belief in a God (eg Hinduism believe in many Gods). Also accused of Western Bias because they exclude religions such as Buddhism which do not suit the western idea of a God (ethnocentric). |
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Give an example of a religion which suits the substantive definition of religion. |
Christianity - belief in one God |
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Define a functional definition of religion. |
Religion is defined in terms of the social or psychological functions it performs for individuals or society. |
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How does Durkheim (1915) define religion? |
The contribution it makes to social integration, rather than any specific belief in a God or the supernatural. |
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How does Yinger define religion? |
Yinger emphasises the functions that religion performs for individuals, such as answering 'ultimate questions' about the meaning of life and what happens when we die. |
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Are functional definitions of religion exclusive or inclusive? Why? |
Inclusive; allows us to include a wide range of beliefs and practises that perform functions such as integration. Also, since they do not specify a belief in a God/supernatural there is no bias against non-western religions such as Buddhism. |
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What's a problem with functional definitions of religion? |
Just because an institution helps integrate individuals into a group, this does not make it into a religion. For example; collective chanting at a football game might give individuals a sense of integration but this doesn't mean it is a religion. |
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Define a social constructionist definition of religion. |
An interpretivist approach that focuses on how members of society themselves define religion. they argue that it isn't possible to have a single definition. |
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How does Alderidge (2007) define religion? |
He uses scientology as an example to show that; whilst for its followers scientology is a religion, the government has refused to give it legal status as a religion. |
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Are social constructionist definitions of religion exclusive or inclusive? Why? |
Inclusive; do not assume that religion always involves belief in a God or the supernatural - or that it performs similar functions for everyone in all societies. Their approach allows them to get close to the meanings that people themselves give to religion which may include a wide range of viewpoints. |
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What's a problem with functional definitions of religion? |
Impossible to generalise about the nature of religon since people may have widely differing veiwpoints. |
