Topic 1 - Theories of religion - What is religion

Focus on content/substance of religious belief eg belief in God/supernatural.

Wever (1905) - defines religion as belief in a superior/supernatural power that's above nature + can't be explaned scientifically.

Exclusive - draw a clear line between religious + non-religious beliefs. To be a religion, set of beliefs must include belief in God/supernatural.

Conform to widespread view of religion as belief in God. However, defining religion in this wat leaves no room for beliefs/practices that perform similar functions to religion but don't believe in God. 

Accused of Western bias as exclude religions eg Buddhism that don't have Western idea of God.

Define religion in terms of social/psuchological functions it performs for individuals. 

Durkheim (1915) defines religious in terms of contribution it makes to social integration.

Adv - inclusive.  

Don't specify belief in God/supernatural - no Western bias. 

However, just b/c institution helps integrate individuals into groups, doesn't make it religion.

Take interpretivist approach - focuses on how people define religion. Argue not possible to produce one universal definition, as different people mean different things by 'religion'.

Interested in how definitions constructed, challenged + fought over. Aldrudge (2013) shows how, for followers, Scientology is a religion, but several governments deny it legal status as a religion. Shows definitions can be contested + are influenced by who has power to define situation.

Don't assume religion always involves belief in God/supernatural, or that it performs similar functions for everyone in all societies. Approach allows them to get close to meaning people give to religion. However, makes it impossible to generalise about nature of religion due to differing views.