definitions of religion

• Durkheim

  defines religion as a set of practises and beliefs that aid in distinguishing the sacred from the profane
• Weber

  • defines religion as a belief system in that has a God or a supernatural being at it’s centre, often perceived to be all-powerful, superior and inexplicable by science and the laws of nature
  • this creates a clear distinction between religious and non-religious people
  • belief systems can only be classed as a religion if they have commonalities with mainstream religions; eg. a God
• weber’s definition is substantive and exclusivist
• exclusivist

  the belief or doctrine that only one particular religion or belief system is true
• inclusivist

  the belief that although only one belief system is true, it acknowledges aspects of its truth in other religions
• social constructionist definition

  explores how religion can have different meanings to different people, for example, Aldridge demonstrates how scientology is recognise as a religion by its adherents and other people despite the vast majority disagreeing, with France even recognising it as a cult
• the social constructionist definition of religion explores how religion is constructed, challenged and disputed over, the definition is malleable and can be influenced by those with the power to define it
• eval of functionalist definition

  too inclusive as any belief system could he considered a religion if it performs similar functions
• eval of substantive definition

  it is too ethnocentric and only focuses on western and theistic religions, disregarding belief systems that perform similar functions as religion but do not have a supernatural God, eg. Totemism
• eval of constructionist definition

  + allows for more interpretations as religion is a personal matter

  + acknowledges cultural differences

  +first approach to acknowledge scientology in their definitions

  -may excuse hate crimes

  -may give rise to harmful stereotypes