Religion exists in a social context, and always is shaped by and shapes its social context. Furthermore, religion itself is always (at least in part) a socially constituted reality–that is, its content and structure are always formed, at least partially, out of the “stuff” of the socio-cultural world (language, symbols, groups, norms, interactions, resources, organizations, etc.). The sociology of religion pursues an understanding of both the “social-ness'” of religion itself and the mutually influencing interactions between religion and its social environment. We will analyze religious beliefs, practices, and organizations from a sociological perspective, with a primary focus on religion in contemporary American society.

Gerardo Marti
Author

Davidson College
Institution

Private College or University
Institution Type

Syllabus
Resource Type

Undergraduate Course
Class Type

2018
Date Published

Religious Studies, Sociology
Discipline

General Comparative Traditions
Religous Tradition

Pluralism/Secularism/Culture Wars
Topics