1. However What is Religion?
There are 3 main ways in which sociologists define religion:
These focus on the content or substance of religious belief e.g. belief in God or the Supernatural.
1. Substantive Definitions
Defining religion in this way leaves no room for beliefs and practices that perform similar functions to religion but do not involve belief in god
Substantive definitions are also accused of western bias because they exclude religions such as Buddhism, which do not have the western idea of god.
However
To be a religion, substantive definitions suggest we must believe in God
Weber (1905) said religion is a belief in a superior or supernatural power. It is above nature and cannot be explained scientifically
These definitions are exclusive and draw clean lines between religious and non religious beliefs

2. advantages However What is Religion?
There are 3 main ways in which sociologists define religion:
Functionalists define religion in terms of the social or psychological functions it performs for the individual or society
2. Functional Definitions
Functionalists definitions are inclusive allowing us to include a wide range of beliefs and practices that perform functions such as integration.
Also, since they do not specify belief in god or the supernatural, there is no bias against non-western religions such as Buddhism.
However, just because an institution helps integrate individuals into groups, this does not make it a religion. For example, collective chanting at football matches might give individuals a sense of integration, but this doesn’t mean it is a religion.
However
advantages
Yinger (1970) identifies functions that religion performs and suggests it is about answering questions about the meaning of life and what happens when we die.
Durkheim (1915) defines religion in terms of the contribution it makes to social integration, rather than a belief in god.

3. However What is Religion?
There are 3 main ways in which sociologists define religion:
Social constructionists take an interpretivist approach that focuses on how members of society define religion.
3. Constructionist Definitions
They argue that it is not possible to produce a single universal definition of religion to cover all cases.
Social Constructivists do not assume that religion always involves a belief in god or the supernatural, or that it performs a similar function for everyone in all societies. Their approach allows them to get close to the meanings people themselves give to religion
However, this makes it impossible to generalise about the nature of religion, since people may have widely differing views about what counts as a religion.
Social Constructivists are interested in how definitions of religion are constructed, challenged and fought over. E.g. Aldridge (2013) shows for its followers, scientology is a religion whereas governments have tried to ban it.

4. Match the feature to the definition of religion
Immediate activity Apply the theory to real life! No notes, no discussion no text book
It’s the year 2002 and Miss R’s parents have foolishly left their 18 year old twins at home while they go on holiday.
Obviously we had party
Using Durkheim’s ideas of the sacred and the profane explain why I was in more trouble when my mum found a photo one of my friends using her inexpensive rosary beads (Roman Catholic prayer beads) to help open a bottle than my brother was when they discovered it was him who broke the expensive vase.
Match the feature to the definition of religion
A) States that to be a religion there must be a belief in a God or supernatural force
B) Religion is defined not by its specific content but by the social and psychological functions it performs for society and individuals
c) There can’t be a universal definition of religion it’s a matter or personal meaning.
Task 1
Task 2
Functional Definitions
Constructionist Definitions
Substantive Definitions

5. Explain what these two images have to do with religion
Malinowski
Lagoon fishing is calm and peaceful, there is no risk so no need for a religious ritual.
Malinowski
Ocean fishing is dangerous, there needs to be a religious ritual to give people a sense of control, this gives the group a sense of social solidarity and gives them the confidence to do what needs to be done for the community.

6. Malinowski- ‘God of the gaps’ Religious rituals fill the gaps in human being’s control over the world

7. Totemism Durkheim:
Durkheim believed that the essence of all religion could be found by studying its simplest form, in the simplest type of
society – clan society. For this reason, he used studies of the Arunta, an aboriginal Australian tribe with a clan system.
Arunta clans consist of bands of kin who came together regularly to perform rituals involving worship of a sacred totem. The totem is the clan’s emblem, such as an animal or a plant that symbolises the clan’s origins and identity.
The shared totemic ritual worshiping the totem served to reinforce the groups solidarity and sense of belonging.
For Durkheim, when clan members worship their totemic animal, they are in reality worshipping society-even though they themselves are not aware of this fact.
The totem inspires powerful feelings of respect and admiration in the clan’s members precisely because it represents the power of the group on which the individual is utterly dependent. Worshiping the totem reinforces the sense of pride in the group membership (being part of a society) and reaffirms the individual’s commitment to it.

8. Pitching the idea of religion
You are to imagine that you are Emile
Durkheim. Somehow we have transported him from the time that he wrote ‘The Elementary Forms of Religious Life’ (1912) to the location of BBC TVs show ‘Dragon’s Den’.
You are going to try and convince Deborah Medan and the gang that this thing called religion is good for them to invest in.
Plan your pitch
Explain key terms and what the benefits are of religion are to society and the individual
use examples to support your point
stress how religion will be good for keeping society stable and ensuring that everyone is able to contribute to society even when life is tough.
Use other functionalist theorists to support your points, they are the evidence that you product (religion) is a good idea!
Pitching the idea of religion
Remember a functional definition of religion argues its not the specific beliefs that matter it’s the function they perform for society that matters.

9. Theories of religion Functionalist perspective 1 Durkheim (1858-1917)
For functionalists, religious institutions play a central part in creating and maintaining value consensus, order and solidarity.
The first functionalist to develop this idea was Durkheim.
The functionalist perspective sees religion as a conservative force, promoting social harmony, social integration and social
solidarity. They do this using a value consensus which is a widespread agreement around the main values of society which
is the basis of social order.
Conservative is something that maintains or seeks to restore traditional beliefs and maintains
The status quo (the way things are currently organised in society)
Conservative force
Social Harmony
Where everyone lives happily and peacefully together in society.
This refers to the integration of people into society through shared values, a common culture, shared understandings and social ties that bind them together.
Social Solidarity
Functionalist perspective 1
Durkheim ( )

10. Theories of religion Functionalist perspective 1 Durkheim (1858-1917)
For Durkheim, the key feature of religion was not a belief in gods, spirits or the supernatural, but a fundamental distinction
between the sacred and the profane found in all religions.
The Profane
The Sacred
The profane are things that have no special significance. It refers to the ordinary, everyday, non-sacred, non-spiritual and non religious aspects of everyday life.
The sacred are things set apart and forbidden, that
Inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder and are
Surrounded by taboos and prohibitions.
The fact that sacred things evoke such powerful feelings
In believers indicates that this is because the symbols represent something of great power.
When they worship such symbols, Durkheim suggested they were worshipping society itself
Functionalist perspective 1
Durkheim ( )
Durkheim said that although sacred symbols vary from religion to religion, they all perform the essential function of uniting believers into a single community.

11. Theories of religion Functionalist perspective 1 Durkheim (1858-1917)
Durkheim’s collective conscience
Sacred symbols represent societies collective conscience.
A collective conscience is the shared norms, values, beliefs & knowledge that make social life & co-operation between people possible.
Without this, society would crumble.
Regular shared religious rituals binds individuals together reminding them they are part of a single community to which they owe their loyalty.
Such rituals also remind the individual of the power of society without which they themselves would be nothing.
Durkheim said religion performs an important function for the individual. It makes us feel part of something which is greater than ourselves.
Religion strengthens us to face life’s trials and motivates us to overcome obstacles.
Functionalist perspective 1
Durkheim ( )

12. Theories of religion Durkheim’s cognitive functions of religion
Religion provides basic categories for example time, space and causation.
Think about the creation story in the bible it gives us and explanation of days, light and dark
Durkheim sees religion as a source of intellectual and cognitive capacity. We need religion for reasoning, understanding the world and communicating.
Cognitive functions
of religion according
to Durkheim.
Similarly, the division of tribes into clans gives humans their first notion of classification. So for Durkheim, religion is the origin of human thought, reason & science
For example, with ideas about a creator bringing the world into being at the beginning of time.

13. Theories of religion Functionalist perspective 2 Malinowski (1954)
Malinowski agrees with Durkheim that religion has a function.
Malinowski suggests religion performs psychological functions for individuals.
For example, religion helps them cope with emotional stress.
Malinowski identifies two types of situation in which religion performs a psychological function
Where the outcome is important but is uncontrollable and thus uncertain.
Lagoon Fishing is safe and uses the predictable and successful method of poisoning. When the islanders fish in the lagoon there is no ritual
B) Ocean Fishing is dangerous and uncertain and is always accompanied by ‘canoe magic’ – rituals to ensure a safe and successful expedition. This gave people a sense of control, which eases tension, gives them confidence and reinforces group solidarity.
2. At times of life crisis.
Events such as birth, puberty, marriage and especially death mark major and disruptive changes in social groups.
Religion helps to minimise disruption.
For example, the funeral rituals reinforce a feeling of solidarity among survivors, while the notion of life after death gives comfort to the bereaved.
Malinowski argues that death is the main reason for religion.
Soldiers pray in times of war. We pray during illness and when disasters happen.
Functionalist perspective 2
Malinowski (1954)

14. Theories of religion Functionalist perspective 3 Parsons (1967)
Parsons sees religion as helping individuals to cope with unforeseen events and uncontrollable outcomes. In addition, Parsons identifies two other essential functions that religion performs in modern society.
Religion provides the core norms and values for society.
For example the 10 commandments and the consequences for breaking them
2. It strengthens social solidarity by answering the unanswerable questions that threaten it.
For example, why do bad people prosper while the good suffer? What happens when we die?

15. Homework: This will be one of your Sociology 7 hours
Civil Religion
Bellah (1991) argues that the USA have invented a civil religion to provide social solidarity and unify society especially one that has multiple religions.
It has its own saints, sacred texts, sacred places and sacred symbols.
These unite Americans regardless of their religious background.
Civil religion claims the loyalty of all Americans and suggests that the American way of life is sacred.
Homework: This will be one of your Sociology 7 hours
1) Explain how pledging allegiance to the flag (which all school pupils do every day in the US)
Can be seen as an act of Civil religion.
2) What function does it provide for American society?
3) Research: Google: Laws about the US flag and tell me why it could be viewed as a sacred item
4) Make notes on Marxist theories of religion and feminist theories of religion pages 8-10
5) Please complete this survey:
Due Wednesday