Socially constructed religions can still be real

Evidence

The fact that African religions are social constructs or inventions of traditions does not imply that they do not exist. Despite secularization (Shorter & Onyancha, 1997), in African cultures people are attaching great value to religion. Religion is a way of life that emphasizes ethical conduct. The role that religion has in societies remains in full force. — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 808

Categorization

• QUESTION: By what criteria would one distinguish a merely ‘invented’ religious tradition from a living one if both are constructs with real social effects?
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 808
• XREF: connects to: Groups are real for social science and anti-racist politics despite lacking shared essences. — A. Hussain, N. Meer, Framing Muslim Integration, 593; Ideologically backward classes can still hold advanced practical functions