Religion and society — common mistakes

In an exam, be prepared to contrast substantive and functional definitions, using named sociologists. Explain how the choice of definition impacts whether a society is seen as religious or secular.

Not necessarily. Secularisation is primarily about the declining social significance and public influence of religion. An individual can still have strong personal faith in a highly secular society. Sociologists like Grace Davie argue that private belief persists even as public practice (like church attendance) declines, a concept she calls 'believing without belonging'.

The term 'cult' has strong negative connotations in popular use. Sociologists prefer the more neutral term 'New Religious Movement' (NRM) to avoid this bias. NRMs are diverse; some, called world-rejecting NRMs, can be hostile to the outside world, but many others, known as world-affirming NRMs, are positive about society and offer techniques for self-improvement and success within it.

No, there is no single agreed-upon definition. The main approaches are substantive (what religion is), functional (what religion does), and social constructionist (how beliefs get defined as religion). The definition a sociologist chooses will affect their research and conclusions. For example, using a functional definition might lead one to see less secularisation than using a strict substantive one.