Ways of defining religion

Introduction

Sociologists define religion differently according to the role it plays for individuals and society.

Substantive definitions

Focuses on the substance/content of religious belief. The belief system must include God or the supernatural to be a religion.

Exclusive -- A clear line between religious and non religious beliefs

AO3: Western bias/ethnocentric - Buddhism doesn’t have a western idea of a God.

Functional definitions

Focuses on what religion does for people - the functions it performs.

Functionalists - religion performs positive functions such as bringing people together creating social solidarity.

Inclusive - wide range of beliefs included

**AO3:** Too easy for something to count as a religion - football fans

Social constructionist definitions

Focuses on what religion means to the individual - an interpretivist approach.

Something is religious if an individual defines it that way - there’s no one right way of defining religion as it means different things to each individual.

**AO3:** Can’t generalise about the nature of religion because religion has different meanings for everyone.