When it comes to the study of religion, there are certain methods and protocols that must be followed to analyze a tradition or practice from an objective point of view. This is why most scholars who study religion use the functionalist approach to look for a particular function that religion plays in society. One of the key components of this approach is methodological atheism, or suspicion of supernatural claims. Furthermore, the functionalist approach breaks down religious claims into social functions and focuses on the purpose that a religion serves for the insiders who practice it. This approach involves asking questions about who is making a statement, what, and what purpose the company implementing that statement might serve..