sociology of religion

(noun)

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.

Related Terms

Examples of sociology of religion in the following topics:

  • Religion

    • Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and moral values.
    • This is an example of socialization through religion.
    • 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.
    • Despite these rare exceptions, the process of socialization is certainly a significant factor in the continued existence of religion.
    • Religious ceremonies, such as Catholic mass, socialize members of the faith to the practices and beliefs of the religion.

  • Introduction

    • Sociologists study religion the same way they study other social institutions, like education or government.
    • The aim is primarily to understand religions, but included in trying to understand religions is the aim of trying to predict what religions will eventually do (or what will become of religions).
    • It is important to note at the beginning of this chapter that sociologists study religion not to prove, disprove or normatively evaluate religion.
    • Sociologists aren't interested in whether a religion is right or wrong.
    • That said, the social scientific study of religion can be challenging from a faith standpoint as it provides alternative, naturalistic explanations for many elements of religion (e.g., the sources of conversion experiences).

  • Religious Symbols

    • Religious symbolism is the use of acts, artwork, and events to create a mythos expressing the teachings of the religion.
    • Religions view religious texts, rituals and works of art as symbols of compelling ideas or ideals.
    • The study of religious symbolism is either universalist, a component of comparative religion and mythology, or seen in a localized scope within the confines of a religion's limits and boundaries.
    • Comparative religion concerns the systematic comparison of the world's religions.
    • Discuss the use of religious symbols as means of representing the ideals and values of a particular religion

  • Functions of Religion

    • The functionalist perspective, which originates from Emile Durkheim's work on religion, highlights the social role of religion.
    • Religion, he argued, was an expression of social cohesion.
    • Religion is an expression of our collective consciousness, which is the fusion of all of our individual consciousness, which then creates a reality of its own.
    • The primary criticism of the structural-functional approach to religion is that it overlooks religion's dysfunctions.
    • Religion has often been the justification of, and motivation for, war.

  • World Religions and Religious History

    • If one were to ask any sociologist of religion which are the world religions, they would likely give the standard answer that there are five world religions:
    • A detailed description of these religions is beyond the scope of this chapter.
    • The classification of these groups as world religions is, like all classifications, artificial.
    • Three are religions of the book and can be practiced somewhat distinctly from one's primary cultural identity (e.g., being an American and Episcopalian), while two are better understood as synonymous with culture (Buddhism and Hinduism).
    • Additionally, the religions of the book have numerous branches, some so dissimilar that there is more contention within the world religions than between them (e.g., Mormons vs. fundamentalist Christians, Catholics vs.

  • Religion and Social Control

    • Marx viewed religion as a tool of social control used by the bourgeoisie to keep the proletariat content with an unequal status quo.
    • Marx argued that religion was able to do this by promising rewards in the after-life, instead of in this life.
    • "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the feeling of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless circumstances.
    • It is the opium of the people...The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness" (p.72).
    • It should be reiterated here that Marx's approach to sociology was critical in the sense that it advocated for change in the world.

  • Marx and the "Opiate of the Masses"

    • One of the most frequently paraphrased statements of Karl Marx is, religion is the opium of the people.
    • Early social theorists offered explanations and analysis of religion in terms of the function of religion in society, the role of religion in the life of the individual, and the nature (and origin) of religion.
    • Marx's approach to sociology was critical in the sense that, in contrast to the knowledge for knowledge's sake approach, it advocated change.
    • Criticism of the system in place when he was writing was inherent in Marx's approach; because of this, he took a particular stand on the existence of religion, namely, that it should be done away with.
    • Marx saw himself as doing sociology and economic theory for the sake of human development.

  • The Nature of Religion

    • Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and to moral values.
    • The typical dictionary definition of religion refers to a "belief in, or the worship of, a god or gods" or the "service and worship of God or the supernatural. " However, many writers and scholars have noted that this basic "belief in god" definition fails to capture the diversity of religious thought and experience.
    • The development of religion has taken different forms in different cultures.
    • Some religions focus on the subjective experience of the religious individual while others consider the activities of the religious community to be most important.
    • One modern academic theory of religion, social constructionism, says that religion is a modern concept that has been defined relative to the Abrahamic religions and that thus, religion as a concept has been applied inappropriately to non-Western cultures that are not based upon such systems.

  • Introduction

    • Demography is the study of human population dynamics.
    • It encompasses the study of the size, structure and distribution of populations, and how populations change over time due to births, deaths, migration, and aging.
    • Demographic analysis can relate to whole societies or to smaller groups defined by criteria such as education, religion, or ethnicity.

  • The Elements of Religion

    • Emile Durkheim argues that religion is comprised of the sacred elements of social life.
    • As a result, some have argued Durkheim's distinction is not sufficiently narrow to capture the essence of religion.
    • This categorization of religion highlights its functional role as serving specific social ends.
    • A third social scientific perspective views religion as the collective beliefs and rituals of a group relating to the supernatural.
    • Though not without criticisms, this categorization most closely adheres to the traditional and popular view of what constitutes a religion .