Key concepts of beliefs in society

Religiosity

To what extent a person is or sees themselves as religious

Fundamentalism

Appeal to tradition, seek to return to basics or fundamentals of their beliefs

Secularisation

Decrease in power that religion has in society

Ideology

The set of ideas, beliefs and values that provide means of interpreting the world

Theistic Beliefs

A belief in a higher power which can be a single God (monotheistic) or multiple (polytheistic). This being is what the religion revolves around

New Age Movements

They are spiritual rather than religious and focused mainly on self development, and fulfilment

Example: Reiki or Yoga

Animism

The beliefs in spirits and ghosts that can have a positive or negative impact on society

More prevalent in pre or non industrial societies

Example: Aztecs

Totenism

Community creates a symbol that represents them as a group

This symbol gains sacred significance and is believed to protect them

Example: Cross

Example of group: Australian Aboriginals

Substantative Definition : What is it ?

• Identifies core characteristics shared by major religions

• Exclusive in nature because belief systems can only be classed as a religion if they have those core characteristics

• Example : A belief in God

Substantive Definition : Evaluation

• Ethnocentric - only focuses on western religions

• Doesn’t have room for beliefs systems which do not fit the traditional framework of organised religion

• Example : no belief in God

Function Definition : What is it ?

• Looks into what religion does for society

• It may bring comfort or reinforce societal values and inequalities

Function Definition : Evaluation

• Too inclusive

• Any belief system can be argued as a religion

• Example : Football team performs functions - is that a religion ?

Constructionist Definition : What is it ?

• Interested in how definitions of religion are constructed, challenged, and fought over

• Interpretivists believe that the definition of religion is based on who has the power

• Key thinker : Aldridge - shows how followers of scientology think its a religion, many people who don’t follow it don’t

Constructionist Definition : Evalutation

• Impossible to generalise what is nature of religion

• This is because people have widely differing views of what counts as religion