What is religion?

What is religion?

  • Set of ideas and beliefs about the world

Three main approaches to defining religion:

  • Substantive

  • Functional

  • Social constructionist

Substantive definition of religion:

  • Belief in a supernatural power that is unable to be scientifically explained

  • Weber (1905) argued that religion requires a belief in a supernatural deity

  • This distinguishes it from an ideology which is a set of beliefs and ideas that are used to justify the position of some in society

  • This definition refers to traditional organised religion. This means Christianity, Islam and other world religions. Therefore, religion in a substantive sense makes reference to Heaven, Hell and God- the supernatural

Evaluation:

  • Good:

    • Conforms to a widespread view of religion as a belief in God.

  • Bad:

    • Defining religion in this way leaves us no room for beliefs and practices that perform similar functions to religion but do not involve belief in God.

    • Can be accused of Western bias because they exclude religions such as Buddhism, which do not have the Western idea of God.

Functional definition of religion:

  • Religion is defined by the social and psychological functions it performs for society

  • A broader definition of religion offered by Durkheim and Parsons

  • Application to other institutions and organisations that provide comfort to individuals

  • This type of definition looks at the functions being performed. If something provides a moral framework or integrates a community it can be described as religious. It does not have to refer to God or any idea of an afterlife

Evaluation:

  • Good:

    • It is an inclusive definition, allowing us to include a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions such as integration.

    • No bias against non-Western religions.

  • Bad:

    • Just because an institution helps integrate individuals into groups, this does not make it into a religion.

    • For example, collective chanting at a football match might give individuals a sense of integration, but this doesn't mean it is a religion.

Social constructionist definition of religion:

  • Diversity of religious beliefs means there is not one definitive definition of what religion is

  • The process of understanding how a set of beliefs comes to exist is the focus of social constructionist ideas

  • Interpretivist methodologies - focusing on the meanings ascribed to religious involvement

How does religion differ from science?

  • Science is an open belief system in comparison to religion

  • Religion is based upon faith, whilst science is based upon direct observation

  • Whilst religion requires a belief - often in the supernatural - science requires falsification

Society is a system of interrelated parts:

  • Each institution within society performs certain functions. Religion is an institution that has many functions....

  • Society depends on having a value consensus which maintains social order and solidarity.