Flashcards
Definitions of Religion
Flashcards do conjunto (5)
- 1Problems with defining religion- No universal definition agreed on by all sociologists
- Makes measuring religion difficult
- Makes it hard to measure if socialisation has occurred or not - 2Three definitions of religion- Substantive definitions
- Functional definitions
- Social Constructionist definitions - 3Substantive definition- Content or substance of religious belief i.e. belief in God or supernatural
- Weber - religion is a belief in the superior or supernatural power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically
- Exclusive - draw a clear line between religious and non-religious belief in God
- Do not allow room for religious beliefs and practices that do not involve belief in God e.g. Buddhism - 4Functional definition- Define religion in terms of the social or psychological functions it performs for individuals or society
- Durkheim - defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social integration
- Yinger - identifies functions performed by religion for individuals i.e. answering ultimate questions about the meaning of life and what happens when we die
- Inclusive - includes wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions such as integration
- Just because an institution helps integrate individuals into groups, this does not make it a religion e.g. football - 5Social Constructionist definitions- Interpretivist approach focusing on how members of society themselves define religion
- Not possible to produce a single universal definition that covers all cases; different individuals and groups have different experiences of religion
- Aldridge - shows how Scientology is a religion for its followers; several governments have denied its legal status as a religion and sought to ban it
- Do not assume religion always involves belief in God or the supernatural, or that it performs similar functions for everyone in all societies
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- Descrição
- A2 Sociology Unit 3 Beliefs in Society
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- pkayy11
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