How can the activities illustrated in Items A and B be seen as religious? Item A depicts President Clinton flanked by athletes saluting the American flag, Item B is similar, showing Catholics carrying a statue of their neighbourhoods patron saint in Ha

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  1. How can the activities illustrated in Items A and B be seen as religious? Refer to the definitions outlined in the text.

There are two main definitions that are used when attempting to define religion, substantive, the focus of the content or substance of religious belief, and functional, the social and psychological functions religion performs for the individual or society.

Item A depicts President Clinton flanked by athletes saluting the American flag; this can be seen as religious according to both definitions. The substantive definition stresses the role of belief in the supernatural and relation to things of sacred value, and both can be considered present in this picture. Although not as prevalent as the relation to the sacred, the picture of them saluting the American flags holds some reference to belief in the supernatural, because of the Americanism of religion, that is, the way in which Americanism and religion are intertwined, and a belief in a power that is superior to humans fits the substantive definition of religion. Weber explains that a belief in a power above the forces of nature is supernatural, which fits the definition. Durkheim’s part of this definition, relation to things of a sacred nature can also be seen, the obvious sacred item is the American flag, it is, as Durkheim said, something that is “ set apart and forbidden… evokes strong emotions of awe, respect and deference. “ Nearly every American respects their flag, and would thus consider it sacred.

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Item A also fits the functional definition of religion, Durkheim says religious beliefs and practices “unite into one single moral community… all those who adhere to them. “ He adds that they encourage social solidarity and unity. In America, in every school at the beginning of a day, pupils and teachers alike stand to salute the flag with the pledge of allegiance, this plays a part in reinforcing the collective conscience of the community, the saluting of the flag is perhaps one of the only things that all Americans share, this bond provides the function of strengthening solidarity.

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