What is religion?

-They focus on the content or substance of religious belief, such as the belief in God or the supernatural.

-For example, Weber defines religion as a beliedf in a superior or supernatural power that is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically. Substantive definitions are exclusive; they draw a clear line between religions and non-religious beliefs. To be a religion, a set of beliefs must include belief in God or the supernatural

-Substantive definitions conform to a widespread view of religion as a belief in God. However, defining religion in this way leaves no room for beliefs and practices that perform similarly to religions but don't require a belief in God. These are examined below. Substantive definitions are also accused of western bias because the exclude religions such as buddhism, which dont have the western concept of God.

-Functional definitions define religion in terms of the pyschological functions it performs for society.

-Durkheim: He defines religion in terms of the contributuon it makes to social integration, rather than in the specific belief in God or the supernatural.

-Yinger: identifies functions that religion performs for individuals, such as answering 'ultimate questions', such as the meaning of life and what happens after we die. 

-They're inclusive; they allow us to include a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions such as integration. Also, they dont spectify a belief in God, so they have no bias against non-Western religions into groups. However, just because institutions place people into a group doesn't mean that it is a religion. 

-They focus on how members of society define religion.

-It isn't possible to have one single definition of religion since the variation is so vast. 

-Social constructionists are concerned with how definitions are created, challenged and fought over: Aldridge shows how scientology is a religion for its followers, despite government denying it and trying to ban it. This shows how definitions of religion can be contested and are influenced by who has the power to define the situation.

-Doesn't follow a belief in God or the supernatural, or that it performs similar functions for everyone in society. This allows them to get to the definitions people give to society.

-However, this makes it impossible to generalise about the nature of religion, since people may have widely differing views on what counts as a religion.