Beliefs in Society;
Topic 1, Theories of Religion
What is religion?
3 ways to define;
1. SUBSTANTIVE DEFINITIONS
Focus on content of religious belief e.g. belief in God or supernatural
Sociologist- Max Weber defines religion as belief in a superior power that is above nature and
cannot be explained scientifically
Evaluation
-VE Conform to widespread view of religion as belief in God
-VE Accused of western bias- exclude religions such as Buddhism, which do not have western idea of
a God
-VE Exclusive- draw a clear line between religious and non-religious beliefs
2. FUNCTIONAL DEFINITIONS
Define in terms of social and psychological functions it performs for individuals in society
Sociologist- Emile Durkheim defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social
integration, rather than any specific belief in God or supernatural
Milton Yinger identifies functions that religion performs for individuals e.g. answering ultimate
questions about the meaning of life and what happens when we die
Evaluation
+VE Inclusive- allowing us to include a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions
such as integration
+VE as do not specify belief in God – no bias against non-western religions
-VE Just because an institution helps integrate individuals into groups- not a religion
e.g. collective chanting at football matches might give individuals sense of integration, does not
mean it is a religion.
3. CONSTRUCTIONIST DEFINITIONS
Interpretivist approach- focus on how members of society themselves define religion.
Believes it is not possible to produce a single universal definition of religion to cover all cases- since
in reality different individuals and groups mean very different things by ‘religion’
Sociologist- Alan Aldridge- shows how, for its followers- scientology is a religion, whereas several
governments have denied it legal status as a religion and sought to ban it
Shows definitions of religion can be contested and are influenced by who has power to define the
situation
Don’t assume religion always involves a belief in God
Topic 1, Theories of Religion
What is religion?
3 ways to define;
1. SUBSTANTIVE DEFINITIONS
Focus on content of religious belief e.g. belief in God or supernatural
Sociologist- Max Weber defines religion as belief in a superior power that is above nature and
cannot be explained scientifically
Evaluation
-VE Conform to widespread view of religion as belief in God
-VE Accused of western bias- exclude religions such as Buddhism, which do not have western idea of
a God
-VE Exclusive- draw a clear line between religious and non-religious beliefs
2. FUNCTIONAL DEFINITIONS
Define in terms of social and psychological functions it performs for individuals in society
Sociologist- Emile Durkheim defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social
integration, rather than any specific belief in God or supernatural
Milton Yinger identifies functions that religion performs for individuals e.g. answering ultimate
questions about the meaning of life and what happens when we die
Evaluation
+VE Inclusive- allowing us to include a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions
such as integration
+VE as do not specify belief in God – no bias against non-western religions
-VE Just because an institution helps integrate individuals into groups- not a religion
e.g. collective chanting at football matches might give individuals sense of integration, does not
mean it is a religion.
3. CONSTRUCTIONIST DEFINITIONS
Interpretivist approach- focus on how members of society themselves define religion.
Believes it is not possible to produce a single universal definition of religion to cover all cases- since
in reality different individuals and groups mean very different things by ‘religion’
Sociologist- Alan Aldridge- shows how, for its followers- scientology is a religion, whereas several
governments have denied it legal status as a religion and sought to ban it
Shows definitions of religion can be contested and are influenced by who has power to define the
situation
Don’t assume religion always involves a belief in God
