- "Sociology of religion is the study of the beliefs, practices, and organizational forms of religion using the tools and methods of the discipline of sociology."
Exploring the relationship between religion and society, and how religion influences and is influenced by social, political, and economic factors.
Comparative religions: This involves studying the beliefs, practices, and rituals of different religions to identify similarities and differences among them.
Theories of religion: This explores the various theoretical approaches to understanding religion, such as functionalism, Marxism, and feminism.
Religion and politics: This examines how religion and politics intersect, including topics such as the role of religion in public policy, religious movements and social change, and religious nationalism.
Globalization and religion: This explores how globalization impacts religious practices and beliefs around the world, including the spread of religious ideas, the rise of new religious movements, and the globalization of religious conflicts.
Religion and gender: This focuses on the ways in which religion shapes gender roles and identities, including the impact of patriarchal religious traditions and the role of women in religious institutions.
Religion and culture: This examines the relationship between religion and culture, including how religious beliefs and practices are shaped by cultural norms and values, and how religions adapt and evolve in different cultural contexts.
Ritual and symbolism: This involves studying the symbolic and ritual practices within different religions, including the use of religious symbols, rites of passage, and the role of religion in marking significant life events.
Religion and science: This explores the relationship between religion and science, including debates over evolution and creationism, and the potential conflicts between scientific discoveries and religious beliefs.
Religion and the environment: This focuses on the role of religion in environmental activism, including the ways in which religious beliefs and practices influence attitudes towards nature and the environment.
Religion and ethics: This examines the relationship between religion and ethics, including discussions on moral relativism, ethical systems within different religious traditions, and the role of religion in shaping ethical decision-making.
Christianity: A monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Islam: A monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the teachings of Muhammad as recorded in the Quran.
Hinduism: A diverse range of beliefs, practices, and traditions originating in the Indian subcontinent.
Buddhism: A religion and philosophy originating in ancient India that emphasizes the nature of reality and personal spiritual development.
Judaism: An Abrahamic religion tracing its origins to the people of Israel and the biblical Hebrew scriptures.
Sikhism: A monotheistic religion founded in Punjab, India that emphasizes the importance of community service, equality, and personal spiritual growth.
Shintoism: A Japanese religion incorporating animistic and polytheistic beliefs in deities or spirits known as kami.
Taoism: A philosophical and religious tradition originating in China that emphasizes the importance of harmony with nature and the principle of wu-wei (non-action).
Confucianism: A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes social harmony, moral values, and the importance of personal cultivation.
Zoroastrianism: A monotheistic religion originating in ancient Persia that emphasizes the struggle between good and evil, and the importance of righteous conduct.
- "This objective investigation may include the use both of quantitative methods (surveys, polls, demographic and census analysis) and of qualitative approaches (such as participant observation, interviewing, and analysis of archival, historical and documentary materials)."
- "Émile Durkheim's 1897 study of suicide rates among Catholic and Protestant populations, a foundational work of social research which served to distinguish sociology from other disciplines, such as psychology."
- "The works of Karl Marx and Max Weber emphasized the relationship between religion and the economic or social structure of society."
- "Contemporary debates have centered on issues such as secularization, civil religion, and the cohesiveness of religion in the context of globalization and multiculturalism."
- "The sociology of religion is distinguished from the philosophy of religion in that it does not set out to assess the validity of religious beliefs."
- "The process of comparing multiple conflicting dogmas may require what Peter L. Berger has described as inherent 'methodological atheism'."
- "Whereas the sociology of religion broadly differs from theology in assuming indifference to the supernatural..."
- "Theorists tend to acknowledge socio-cultural reification of religious practice."
- "The study of the beliefs, practices, and organizational forms of religion using the tools and methods of the discipline of sociology."
- "Quantitative methods (surveys, polls, demographic and census analysis) and qualitative approaches (such as participant observation, interviewing, and analysis of archival, historical and documentary materials)."
- "Émile Durkheim's 1897 study of suicide rates among Catholic and Protestant populations."
- "The relationship between religion and the economic or social structure of society."
- "Secularization, civil religion, and the cohesiveness of religion in the context of globalization and multiculturalism."
- "It does not set out to assess the validity of religious beliefs."
- "Broadly differs from theology in assuming indifference to the supernatural."
- "Inherent 'methodological atheism' described by Peter L. Berger."
- "Theorists tend to acknowledge socio-cultural reification of religious practice."
- "Using the tools and methods of the discipline of sociology."
- "Both quantitative methods and qualitative approaches are utilized."