Sociology of Religion

About Us About the Book Part One: The Basics By Way of Introduction Background The Definitional Problem Exploring the Dimensions of Religion Social Relationships Ethical Considerations A Definitional Revision The Plan of the Book Suggestions for Further Reading Studying Religion Why Study Religion? How Do We Study Religion? Survey Research Participant Observation Historical Research Theory in the Study of Religion Functionalist Theories Conflict Theories A Paradigm Shift Rational Choice Theories Sociologie Religieuse Implicit Religion Suggestions for Further Reading The “Religion” of Secularization and the History of Religions The “World” of Religion The Arguments The Critique The “Religions” of Secularization Civil Religion Invisible Religion The Myth of the Age of Faith Pluralism Suggestions for Further Reading Religion in the United States: Denominationalism and Beyond Churches and Sects Weber’s Sociology and Troeltsch’s Ethics Elaboration, Reaction, and Revision Neo-Weberian Analyses Denominationalism Typology Denominations Today Congregationalism American Religious Renewal Mainlines and Sidelines in Religion in the United States Evangelicals and Fundamentalists: Alike and Different Suggestions for Further Reading Part Two: Religion and Social Differentiation Social Class, Religion and Power: A Classic Field of Inquiry Sociological Classics Marx: The Permanent Exile and Prophet Weber: Theodicy, Religious Ethics, and Social Class Religion and the U.S. Class Structure U.S. Classes and Religion in the Industrial Age: 1870–1970 The Class/Religion Nexus in the Neo-Liberal Era: 1970– Suggestions for Further Reading Religion and Ethnicity: A Complex Relationship Clarifying Terms: Ethnic, Nationality, and Racial Groups Defining Ethnic Groups Nationality Groups and Territoriality The Specter of Race Relational Patterns between Religion and Ethnicity Ethnicity in the “Righteous Empire” The Ethnic Factor in the Formative Period of U.S. Catholicism The Jewish Diaspora Herberg’s Thesis and the “Triple Melting Pot” The African-American Religious Experience From Different Shores: The New Immigrants The New Ethnics as Protestants, Catholics, and Jews Beyond Protestant, Catholic, Jew Suggestions for Further Reading Gender, Sexuality, and Religion: Spirituality in Different Voices? The Ordination Debate Women in Clerical and Lay Roles Culture Wars: Gender, Religion, and Family Values Abortion and the Politics of the Body Family Matters Gays, Lesbians, and Religion Images of God and Gendered Spirituality Suggestions for Further Reading Part Three: Religion, Culture, and Change Religious Change: The Case of Catholicism in the United States Church with a Capital C Change: From Breeze to Tornado Commitment: Loyalty, but Not Obedience Devotion: A Collapse of Authority Governance: Guiding the People of God Leadership: Failures at the Top Membership: Problems in the Pews African-American Catholics Hispanic / Latino Catholics Women in the Church Personnel: People without Priests Finances: Expanding Mission, Declining Resources Suggestions for Further Reading Politicized Religion and Conflict: National and Global Dimensions Fundamentalism The Religious Right in the United States Islamization Ultraorthodox Judaism Hindutva: Hindu Nationalism Militant Buddhism in Sri Lanka Conclusion Suggestions for Further Reading Mediating Meaning: Religion in—and as—Contemporary Culture Mass Faith: The Media of Religion Religion in Material Culture: Faith in the Flesh Religious Publishing: Words and The Word “That Old-Time Religion”: Broadcast Faith in the United States “In the Beginning . . .” The Message: “His Master’s Voice”? The Messengers: The Return of Elmer Gantry? The Audience: Preaching to the Converted? Cyber-Faith: Religion on the Internet Suggestions for Further Reading Boundary Issues: Church, State, and New Religions Religious Novelty Cult and Anticult: Social Science and Social Movements Asceticism and Mysticism The Attraction of the Margin Illustrations of NRM Dynamics Unificationism (with Eileen Barker) “Satanism” and Anti-Satanism Neopaganism: Of Gods and Goddesses Suggestions for Further Reading References Index