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Definitions of Religion, Screenshot 2024-11-13 at 08.05.47 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Weber
        
        'A belief in the supernatural'
        
        A belief in a being, beings, powers or forces that can't be verified by science
      - Durkheim
        
        'A unified set of beliefs and practices related to sacred things, that is to say, set apart or forbidden
        
        The world is divided into the sacred and the profane (ordinary / non-sacred)
        
        King Charles - defender of the faith, divine right of kings
        
        All religions distinguish between sacred and profane
        
        Sacred objects don't need to be supernatural
    - - Giddens argues that many religions don't have a belief in God / supernatural or suggest that they created the world (eg. Buddhism)
      - Unclear what can be defined as supernatural (eg. star signs, crystal healing)
      - Too Christocentric
      - Profane items can be seen as sacred (eg. flags, football shirts)
  - - - Civil religion
        
        Belief system that attaches sacred qualities to society itself
        
        'God bless America'
        
        Pledge of allegiance
        
        'God save the King'
      - Ultimate questions
        
        Questions that maintain social solidarity and social cohesion
        
        Religious norms and values are value consensus
      - Social solidarity
        
        Religion creates social solidarity
        
        Through norms, values, practices, traditions, celebrations
        
        For example Church every Sunday, Christmas, Easter, etc.
    - - Aldridge argues that it is too broad
      - Difficult to measure
      - Can't see if religion is increasing or decreasing
      - Assumes that all religions have the same beliefs about the purpose of religion
  - - - Constantine
        
        Converted the Roman Empire to Christianity, which was a minor religion at the time
        
        Over the next 1000 years, non believers were persecuted
        
        Ancient religions died out in society
      - Anglicanism
        
        Protestant reformation
        
        Changed UK belief from Catholicism to Church of England
        
        8% of UK population is Catholic
      - Scientology
        
        Some states (Germany, Finland, Belgium) removed the religious status of Scientology
        
        Argue that it is a business masquerading as a religion
      - Sunni and Shia Muslims
        
        Geopolitical differences in religious beliefs
        
        Power goes to Sunnis with 87% - 90%, in countries like Saudi Arabia and Yemen
        
        Shia make up 10% - 13%, in countries like Iran and Pakistan
      - Shintoism
        
        Religion in Japan, where the emperor is seen as God
        
        Shinto Directive 1945 was a law introduced by America, banning Shintoism as the state religion, and imposing secularisation
    - - Impossible to generalise about the future of religion as people have different views as to what counts as religion
      - Can't see if religion is increasing or decreasing
      - Too broad of a definition
      - Difficult to define
- - - - Durkheim
      - Looked at the most basic form of belief
      - Totems symbolise divine power and thus are a centre of worship
      - All forms of religion have their origins in totemism
      - Eg. flags
  - - - Plurality of Gods
      - Some religions may be monotheistic in belief, but polytheistic in practice (eg. Sikhs)
      - Sikhs have ceremonies and traditions of both Sikhism and Hinduism (eg. Diwali)
    - - One divine power
      - Variations in religion, such as Roman Catholics praying to Virgin Mary