Beliefs in society

Functionalist perspective of religion

Religion is the social or psychological function it performs for individuals in society

Substantive (Max Weber)

Saw religion as a believe in the supernatural power that is unable to be scientifically explained

Whether a belief is religious or not, depends on the substance of what is believed

Religion requires a belief in God or Gods, or other supernatural beliefs

Social constructionist definition

Interpretivists sociologists argue that there are many different types of religion that it is impossible to come up with a single definition

Instead, the process by which a set of beliefs becomes recognised is interesting as a religion, and who had the power to determine whether sparing is a religion or not

Conservative in beliefs

Conforming to a tradition e.g dressing more respectfully