- "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."
Overview of various theoretical frameworks used to study religion, such as functionalism, structuralism, and post-structuralism.
Religious Studies: This is the study of different religions across the globe, their beliefs, practices, and rituals.
Philosophy of Religion: This involves the examination of the concepts, theories, and arguments related to religion in the context of philosophy.
History of Religion: This branch of study deals with the evolution and development of different religious traditions over time.
Anthropology of Religion: This involves the study of the social and cultural aspects of religion, and the ways in which it functions in different societies.
Sociology of Religion: This area of study focuses on the group dynamics and social organization of religious communities, and the role of religion in shaping society.
Psychology of Religion: This involves the study of the psychological and emotional aspects of religious belief and practice.
Comparative Religion: This is the comparative study of different religious traditions, often from a cross-cultural perspective, in order to identify similarities and differences.
Feminist Theory and Religion: This area of study examines the ways in which gender and sexuality intersect with religious beliefs and practices, and the impact of gender inequality in religious institutions.
Theology: This branch of study deals with the nature and attributes of God, the relationship between God and humanity, and the role of religion in human life.
Mythology: This involves the study of myths and legends associated with different religions, and the way in which they shape religious beliefs and practices.
Comparative religion framework: This framework compares religions across different cultures and time periods to identify similarities and differences.
Phenomenological framework: This framework seeks to describe and analyze religious experiences and their meanings for individuals.
Structural-functional framework: This framework views religion as a social institution with specific functions and roles within society.
Psychological framework: This framework emphasizes the individual's psychological and emotional experiences of religion, including the role of religious beliefs in shaping personality, behavior, and mental health.
Anthropological framework: This framework examines the cultural and social contexts shaping religious beliefs and practices, as well as the ways in which religion shapes social structures.
Feminist framework: This framework examines the role of gender and power dynamics in shaping religious beliefs, practices, and institutions.
Postmodern framework: This framework critiques traditional assumptions about religion and offers alternative, more inclusive narratives and perspectives.
- "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."