Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Definitions of religion
- Substansive
- MUST have certain
content- belief in God
- Can explain purpose of existance
- WEBER (1905) Religion is
a belief in a superior or
supernatural power
- Western Bias-
excludes beliefs that
perform a similar
function but do not
believe in a God
- Narrowly focused-
only focuses on God
not the funtion of the
religion
- Cannot be explained scientifically
- Functional
- DURKHEIM- furthers
social cohesion
- Defines religion
through societal
function
- Inclusive- no religious content
- YINGER (1970)
identifies functions
such as answering
'ultimate questions'
about life/death
- Too broad- many
non-religious belief
systems are
concerned with the
explanation of the
human condition
- E.g. Science and philosphy
- 'CIvil
religion' is
sometimes
used when
something
has a
quasi-religious
effect
- Social constructist
- Not one definition
as religion is a
social construct
- Measures religiousity- how
religious on a personal level
- Definitions influenced by power
- ALDERIDGE (2007) Scientology-
followers believe it but others
(E.g. Governments reject it
- DURKHEIM & MARX-
Religion is a product to
explain the
unexplainable to bring
communities together
and justify power
inequalities