Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion - 689 Words

The Sociological Approach to the Study of Religion Various methods are utilized in the study of religion and they are employed for a multitude of reasons. The method chosen to study religions is determined by the information being sought. Included among these approaches are social scientific approaches such as the anthropology of religion and the psychology of religion, and normative approaches such as the theology of religion and the philosophy of religion. There is also the sociological approach to the study of religion which is distinctive in that the goal of the sociologist is to gain an understanding of religion from a completely objective standpoint with no regard to the validity of any particular religion. One of the best and most descriptive explanations was written by Grace Davie. She wrote that, A recently published textbook describes the task of the sociology of religion in three ways: first, to further the understanding of the role of religion in society; second, to analyze its significance in and impact upon human histor y; and, third, to understand the social forces and influences that in turn shape religion. A single assumption is however, embedded in all three statements: The sociologist of religion is concerned with religion only insofar as it relates to the context in which it inevitably exists. It is this relational quality that distinguishes the strictly sociological from a wide variety of other disciplines that have interests in this areaShow MoreRelatedSociological Approach to the Study of Religion1673 Words   |  7 PagesOutline and assess one of the main approaches to the study of religions. Religion and ‘The Study of Religions’ has many approaches which try to investigate the core of what religion is and what it means to the people who practice it. Sociology is one such approach that this essay will be looking at through its founding fathers Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx. Sociology in general looks at people’s dynamics and explains a group’s influence. It demonstrates how religious belief and practicesRead MoreMarxist Perspective On Religion And Liberation Theology1199 Words   |  5 Pagesconsumerism are reinforcing oppressive structures could be viewed as a type of â€Å"methodological atheism†, for Marx fails to acknowledge the significance of transcendence for those practicing religion. In the chapter, â€Å"Sociological Approaches†, Northcott points to the relationship between the Marxist perspective on religion and liberation theology movements in Latin America. Marxist inspired liberation theology acted as a source for power for the poor, as it aided in the reformation of the Catholic ChurchRead MoreDurkheim s Sociological Perspective On Religion1733 Words   |  7 PagesDurkheim’s sociological approach to religion. Several central aspects of Durkheim’s approach are defined, including the concepts of religion, clan, and totem. The Totemic Principle and how it can be applied to religion is also discussed. Supporting evidence for Durkheim is offered through Eliade, while dissension is offered by Malinowski. This work concludes with an example of Durkheim’s ideas applied to the story of Lame Deer. Background Any discussion of Durkheim’s views on religion from a sociologicalRead MoreCommon Sense Explanations And The Explanations Of C. Wright Mills Theory Of The Sociological Imagination1534 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay I will be exploring the differences between common sense explanations and the explanations of C. Wright Mills theory of The Sociological Imagination. Common sense is based on people s personal experiences and their opinions, very often constructed from social norms and generalised views. Whereas, the Sociological Imagination thought up by sociologist C. Wright Mills (1959) is based on the ideas of thinking critically and skeptically, in order to think sociologically. He wrote thatRead MorePhilosophy, Phenomenology And Comparative Approachs851 Words   |  4 Pagesthere are six different approaches to religion. One approach is the psychological or individual aspect. Then there is the sociological approach which looks at group behavior. Then there is also the anthropological approach which is looks at societies, cultures and things of that nature. Lastly there is the philosophy, phenomenology and comparative approachs. The psychological approach to religion allows us to examine the individual. The psychology of religion is to understand the personal religiousRead MoreSigmund Freud And Emile Durkheim On Religion1587 Words   |  7 PagesDurkheim on religion, looking at how both theorists essentially viewed religion as serving an integral role in human culture. In particular, this essay considers how both theorists consider religious believers to be mistaken in their ontological beliefs, and the rational causes for this. While both Sigmund Freud and Emile Durkheim are concerned with the study of human behaviour as it relates to culture, each does so from within distinct traditions. In terms of religion, Freud’s approach belongs toRead MoreThe Sociological Perspective, As Defined By The Textbook Society900 Words   |  4 PagesThe sociological perspective, as defined by the textbook Society: The Basics on page 2, is being able to see the general in the particular. This means that a sociologist’s goal is to observe a group of specific people, such as those who go to professional sports games, and find the similarities in their behaviors, like why some dress in outrageous costumes. A sociological perspective is important to understanding the role of a society as part of the larger world. This is called the global perspectiveRead More Functionalist View on the Role and Functions of Religion in Society716 Words   |  3 PagesFunctionalist View on the Role and Functions of Religion in Soci ety Assess the view that sociological arguments and evidence support the Functionalist view of the role and functions of religion in contemporary society. Functionalists believe that religion is a conservative force, and an institution which adds to the requirements of society. They say it ultimately operates as an agency of socialisation. Durkheim (1912) said that all societies are separated intoRead MoreSociology 210 Study Guide1129 Words   |  5 PagesChapter One: The Sociological Perspective I. The Sociological Perspective. A. Sociology is the systematic study of human society. B. The sociological perspective (Berger, 1963) helps us to see general social patterns in the behavior of particular individuals (the general in the particular). C. It also encourages us to realize that society guides our thoughts and deeds — to see the strange in the familiar (Berger, 1963). D. Sociology also encourages us to see personal choice in social contextRead MoreScience Which Deals With The Establishment And Development Of Human Societies Essay1589 Words   |  7 Pagesof human societies. 2.-is a science that has as purpose studying the reality of those entities social such which are. But not as it should be, as well as, the study of societies should be considered analogous to the objects of the animated world. Is it history natural of them corporations human. 3.-the sociology can define is as the study scientific of the life group of them humans, since frequently is gives a use incorrect to them terms sociology and sociologist, would be worth the penalty mention