Substantive Definition

Religion can be defined in two ways substantively and functionally.A functional definition explains what religion does. It helps identify unofficial religions. A substantive definition tries to explain what region is and describe what it looks like. Substantive is more specific than a functional definition. They give a more explicit, narrower, and neater definition to religion. And are very helpful when studying religion. Substantive definition provides categories for what is deemed as religion and nonreligion. This type of definition also correlates with common ideas of religion and reality. But substantive definitions are “historically and culturally bound, based on what has been considered religion in one place and time”(McGuire). It is

This definition can also include things wouldn’t necessarily be considered “religion” such as Maoism, marxism, and nationalism. This definitions is better at illustrating “cross-cultural, transhistorical, and changing aspects of religion” (McGuire). The main weakness is that it can categorize everything into a religion. The inclusiveness functional definitions have “makes it difficult for people to use them for empirical studies requiring neat, quantifiable categories” (McGuire).

The fandoms of Game of thrones and Star Trek are some things in our society that is not commonly recognized as “religious”but can be. A fandom “is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest”. Game of Thrones is a television series based on the series of novel written by George R.R. Martin and Star Trek a television series created by Gene Roddenberry. That later on turned into movie

There’s a belief in these fandoms as well.Some of the people within the fandom become so emotionally attached to the characters that they start to actually hate the actors that portray the fictional characters. They start to see the fictional characters as real people. Another example is when people do the Vulcan salute, the hand gesture that was created in the 1960s Star Trek television series and means “long live and prosper”. When people do this gesture towards another person they believe it is a sign of peace, a blessing, and sending them good