- "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."
The study of the interactions between religion and society, including the influence of religion on social norms, culture and institutions.
Definition of Religion: Explains what religion is, its various interpretations and possible ways of studying it.
Historical perspective: Looks at how the role of religion in society has evolved over time, and how religion has influenced different cultures and societies.
Types of religious institutions: Discusses various religious institutions, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other religious organizations.
Religious beliefs and practices: Examines the beliefs, rituals, and practices associated with different religions, including the reasons behind them.
Secularization: Describes the process of secularization and how it has affected religion in modern societies.
Religious diversity: Explores the different religions around the world and the impact of religious diversity on societies.
The sociology of religion: Examines the interaction between religion and society and how religion influences various aspects of society, including politics, economics, and culture.
Religious identity and community: Looks at how religion and religious institutions shape individual identity and form communities of people who share similar beliefs and practices.
Gender and religion: Studies the impact of religious institutions on gender relations and the role of women in various religious organizations.
Social change and religion: Explores how religion is responding to social change and how religious institutions can influence social change.
Religion and globalization: Examines the impact of globalization on religious institutions and the spread of different religions worldwide.
Religious violence: Looks at the historical and contemporary conflicts that have been influenced by religion and religious institutions.
Religion and social inequality: Explores the role of religion in maintaining or challenging social inequality.
Religion and politics: Studies the relationship between religion and politics, including the role of religious institutions in shaping political structures and policies.
Ethics and morality: Explores the ethical and moral implications of religious beliefs and practices, and how religious institutions contribute to moral and social norms.
Theological sociology of religion: This approach combines theology and sociology to explore the relationship between religion and society. It focuses on the roles of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions in shaping social norms, values, and behaviors.
Historical sociology of religion: This approach examines the historical development of religious institutions and their impact on society. It looks at how religion has evolved over time and how social, political, and economic factors have influenced religious beliefs and practices.
Comparative sociology of religion: This approach compares and contrasts different religions and religious institutions to understand how they differ and how they interact with society. It examines the similarities and differences in their beliefs, practices, and institutions.
Structural-functional sociology of religion: This approach focuses on how religion contributes to social stability and order by fulfilling various social functions such as promoting social cohesion, providing a sense of meaning and purpose, and reinforcing social norms and values.
Conflict sociology of religion: This approach explores the conflicts and tensions that arise between different religious groups and between religion and society. It examines how religious beliefs and practices can lead to social inequality, exclusion, and discrimination.
Symbolic sociology of religion: This approach examines how religious symbols and meanings are created, maintained, and transformed in social contexts. It explores how symbols and meanings are used to construct social reality and how they shape individual and collective identities.
Feminist sociology of religion: This approach analyzes how gender influences religious beliefs, practices, and institutions. It looks at how gender-based inequalities are reinforced, challenged, or transformed through religious beliefs and practices.
- "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."