RELIGION, SCIENCE AND IDEOLOGY
Religion is a belief in the existence of a supernatural entity or other forces.
Features of Religion
+ Beliefs:
- Belief in the supernatural or incomprehensible powers or symbols that represent
these.
+ Theology:
- A set of teachings or beliefs usually based on a holy book.
+ Practice:
- A series of rituals or ceremonies to express religious belief.
+ Institutions:
- The organisation of worship or believers.
+ Consequences:
- A set of moral or ethical values that guide the believer in their behaviour.
Types of Religion
+ Monotheistic Religion:
- The belief in only one God who is seen as a higher power.
- Example: Islam.
+ Polytheistic Religion:
- These believe in many gods who all have a higher power.
- Example: Hinduism.
+ New Age Movements:
- Based on a spiritual rather than a religious belief system. Focus on one’s individual
self, rather than higher supernatural powers.
- Example: Crystals, Tarot cards.
+ Animism:
- Belief in spirits and ghosts that can positively or negatively affect the human and
nature world.
- Example: Witchcraft.
+ Totemism:
- A form of animism in which a community creates a symbol that represents them as
a group.
- Example: Arunta tribe worshipping the Totem Pole.
Defining Religion
Functional and Inclusivist Definitions:
+ This is a broad definition and covers a range of beliefs to which people give a religious
identity to.
+ Does not always involve belief in a supernatural being e.g football match.
+ Durkheim: Religion is a ‘set of unified beliefs and practices relative to sacred things’.
+ He believed that anything that has sacred qualities attached to it is a religion.
,Substantive and Exclusivist Definitions:
+ This is narrower and focuses on what religion actually is.
+ Involves a belief in a supernatural being.
+ Weber: Saw this definition as a belief in a supernatural power that is unable to be
scientifically explained.
+ Does not agree that anything can be a religion.
+ Fits in with conventional and non conventional religions.
Social Constructionist Definitions:
+ This focuses on the meanings which people attach to religion.
+ Berger: It isn't possible to produce a single definition of religion as it means different things
to people.
+ They don’t assume that religion always involves a belief system or that religion provides
similar functions for everyone in society.
+ Example: Scientology.
Significant Religions in the UK
Christianity:
+ Believe in the teachings of Jesus.
+ It has 2.2 billion followers and is the world’s largest religion.
+ Follow the Bible.
+ Different branches:
- Catholic Church
- Orthodox Church
- Protestant Church
- Church of England
- Methodist Church
- Baptists
- Jehovas Witnesses
- Mormons
- Quakers
- Pentecostalism
- Seventh Day Adventists.
+ The 2021 census showed that Christianity is in decline from the 2011 census (59.3%) to
46.2%.
+ People with no religion have increased to 37.2%.
Hinduism:
+ One of the world’s oldest religions.
+ Mainly found in India and Nepal.
+ 1.3% of the GB population.
+ It is polytheistic.
+ Worship can take place at home and the temple.
+ Have their own customs and festivals.
Sikhism:
+ Founded 500 years ago.
, + 27 million Sikhs, mostly living in the Punjab region of India.
+ 0.7% of the GB population.
+ It is monotheistic.
+ Follow scriptures, temples and have their own festivals and customs.
Islam:
+ One of the world’s oldest religions.
+ 1.6 billion Muslims, mainly in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa.
+ 6.5% of the GB population.
+ Monotheistic.
+ Follow the Quran and worship at mosques.
+ Sunni and Shia Islam.
+ Small number of Sufi muslims.
Buddhism:
+ Developed in India.
+ 0.4% of the GB population.
+ Teachings revolve around the 5 precepts.
+ Have their own festivals and worship in temples and homes.
Judaism:
+ Oldest religion.
+ Monotheistic.
+ 0.4% of the GB population.
+ Jews are born into the faith.
+ Have their own customs and holy days.
Paganism:
+ Those who believe in the sanctity of nature and the need to respect natural rhymes and
circles of the earth.
+ Shamanism is a desire for humans to connect with the earth, stars etc.
+ 2021, 74k Pagans.
SCIENCE
+ Based on empirical and objective collection of facts and evidence.
+ Positivists: a scientific approach to studying society and social facts in a quantitative way.
+ Science is based on evidence whilst religion is based on faith and belief.
+ Science = open belief system v Religion = closed belief system.
Science has Replaced Religion
Comte:
+ As society became industrialised, this change would be accompanied by a change in
people's beliefs.
+ This era was a product of rational and scientific thinking and developments which started to
replace religion and superstitious thinking.
+ Society goes through 3 stages:
, 1. Theological stage: Belief in religion and superstitious beliefs.
2. Metaphysical Stage: Philosophical beliefs are dominant and people can now use
rationality to decide what to believe and how to behave.
3. Positive or Scientific Stage: Science is the dominant belief system.
Weber:
+ From the 19th century onwards there was a ‘ growing disenchantment with the world’.
+ The mystical elements of life would be replaced with science.
Bruce:
+ In modernity, religious explanations are gradually displaced by scientific ones as religious
beliefs are shown to be false.
+ Example: Science proved that the Earth moved around the Sun and Evolution.
Examples: Mother Teresa’s Miracles:
+ Healed a large tumour after placing a religious medal on her that she touched.
Religious Explanation: The Roman Catholic Church made her a saint.
Scientific Explanation: Critical of the 2nd miracle as it was 11 years after she died/medicine
healed them.
Science has not Replaced Religion
Census 2021:
+ Although there is a decline in people identifying as Christian, there has been an increase in
other religions eg Islam and Paganism.
Growth in Fundamentalism:
+ There has been a growth of people returning to Strict Fundamentalism.
+ Example – Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism as a response to the spread of
non-religious ideas and values.
Prevalence of Supernatural and Superstitious Beliefs:
+ Although there has been an increase in the number of people identifying as non religious,
many people still hold onto spiritual beliefs.
+ Bullock: Many people who describe themselves as atheists are still superstitious.
Science and Religion can be Compatible
+ Gould argues that they can be compatible as they are concerned with different aspects of
human life.
★ Evaluation:
- Dawkins: A belief in supernatural gods is a decision which is at odds with scientific
thought.
Science and Religion
Similarities: Differences:
+ Both aim to give an explanation. + Religion is a belief in a supernatural
Religion is a belief in the existence of a supernatural entity or other forces.
Features of Religion
+ Beliefs:
- Belief in the supernatural or incomprehensible powers or symbols that represent
these.
+ Theology:
- A set of teachings or beliefs usually based on a holy book.
+ Practice:
- A series of rituals or ceremonies to express religious belief.
+ Institutions:
- The organisation of worship or believers.
+ Consequences:
- A set of moral or ethical values that guide the believer in their behaviour.
Types of Religion
+ Monotheistic Religion:
- The belief in only one God who is seen as a higher power.
- Example: Islam.
+ Polytheistic Religion:
- These believe in many gods who all have a higher power.
- Example: Hinduism.
+ New Age Movements:
- Based on a spiritual rather than a religious belief system. Focus on one’s individual
self, rather than higher supernatural powers.
- Example: Crystals, Tarot cards.
+ Animism:
- Belief in spirits and ghosts that can positively or negatively affect the human and
nature world.
- Example: Witchcraft.
+ Totemism:
- A form of animism in which a community creates a symbol that represents them as
a group.
- Example: Arunta tribe worshipping the Totem Pole.
Defining Religion
Functional and Inclusivist Definitions:
+ This is a broad definition and covers a range of beliefs to which people give a religious
identity to.
+ Does not always involve belief in a supernatural being e.g football match.
+ Durkheim: Religion is a ‘set of unified beliefs and practices relative to sacred things’.
+ He believed that anything that has sacred qualities attached to it is a religion.
,Substantive and Exclusivist Definitions:
+ This is narrower and focuses on what religion actually is.
+ Involves a belief in a supernatural being.
+ Weber: Saw this definition as a belief in a supernatural power that is unable to be
scientifically explained.
+ Does not agree that anything can be a religion.
+ Fits in with conventional and non conventional religions.
Social Constructionist Definitions:
+ This focuses on the meanings which people attach to religion.
+ Berger: It isn't possible to produce a single definition of religion as it means different things
to people.
+ They don’t assume that religion always involves a belief system or that religion provides
similar functions for everyone in society.
+ Example: Scientology.
Significant Religions in the UK
Christianity:
+ Believe in the teachings of Jesus.
+ It has 2.2 billion followers and is the world’s largest religion.
+ Follow the Bible.
+ Different branches:
- Catholic Church
- Orthodox Church
- Protestant Church
- Church of England
- Methodist Church
- Baptists
- Jehovas Witnesses
- Mormons
- Quakers
- Pentecostalism
- Seventh Day Adventists.
+ The 2021 census showed that Christianity is in decline from the 2011 census (59.3%) to
46.2%.
+ People with no religion have increased to 37.2%.
Hinduism:
+ One of the world’s oldest religions.
+ Mainly found in India and Nepal.
+ 1.3% of the GB population.
+ It is polytheistic.
+ Worship can take place at home and the temple.
+ Have their own customs and festivals.
Sikhism:
+ Founded 500 years ago.
, + 27 million Sikhs, mostly living in the Punjab region of India.
+ 0.7% of the GB population.
+ It is monotheistic.
+ Follow scriptures, temples and have their own festivals and customs.
Islam:
+ One of the world’s oldest religions.
+ 1.6 billion Muslims, mainly in the Middle East, Asia and North Africa.
+ 6.5% of the GB population.
+ Monotheistic.
+ Follow the Quran and worship at mosques.
+ Sunni and Shia Islam.
+ Small number of Sufi muslims.
Buddhism:
+ Developed in India.
+ 0.4% of the GB population.
+ Teachings revolve around the 5 precepts.
+ Have their own festivals and worship in temples and homes.
Judaism:
+ Oldest religion.
+ Monotheistic.
+ 0.4% of the GB population.
+ Jews are born into the faith.
+ Have their own customs and holy days.
Paganism:
+ Those who believe in the sanctity of nature and the need to respect natural rhymes and
circles of the earth.
+ Shamanism is a desire for humans to connect with the earth, stars etc.
+ 2021, 74k Pagans.
SCIENCE
+ Based on empirical and objective collection of facts and evidence.
+ Positivists: a scientific approach to studying society and social facts in a quantitative way.
+ Science is based on evidence whilst religion is based on faith and belief.
+ Science = open belief system v Religion = closed belief system.
Science has Replaced Religion
Comte:
+ As society became industrialised, this change would be accompanied by a change in
people's beliefs.
+ This era was a product of rational and scientific thinking and developments which started to
replace religion and superstitious thinking.
+ Society goes through 3 stages:
, 1. Theological stage: Belief in religion and superstitious beliefs.
2. Metaphysical Stage: Philosophical beliefs are dominant and people can now use
rationality to decide what to believe and how to behave.
3. Positive or Scientific Stage: Science is the dominant belief system.
Weber:
+ From the 19th century onwards there was a ‘ growing disenchantment with the world’.
+ The mystical elements of life would be replaced with science.
Bruce:
+ In modernity, religious explanations are gradually displaced by scientific ones as religious
beliefs are shown to be false.
+ Example: Science proved that the Earth moved around the Sun and Evolution.
Examples: Mother Teresa’s Miracles:
+ Healed a large tumour after placing a religious medal on her that she touched.
Religious Explanation: The Roman Catholic Church made her a saint.
Scientific Explanation: Critical of the 2nd miracle as it was 11 years after she died/medicine
healed them.
Science has not Replaced Religion
Census 2021:
+ Although there is a decline in people identifying as Christian, there has been an increase in
other religions eg Islam and Paganism.
Growth in Fundamentalism:
+ There has been a growth of people returning to Strict Fundamentalism.
+ Example – Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism as a response to the spread of
non-religious ideas and values.
Prevalence of Supernatural and Superstitious Beliefs:
+ Although there has been an increase in the number of people identifying as non religious,
many people still hold onto spiritual beliefs.
+ Bullock: Many people who describe themselves as atheists are still superstitious.
Science and Religion can be Compatible
+ Gould argues that they can be compatible as they are concerned with different aspects of
human life.
★ Evaluation:
- Dawkins: A belief in supernatural gods is a decision which is at odds with scientific
thought.
Science and Religion
Similarities: Differences:
+ Both aim to give an explanation. + Religion is a belief in a supernatural
