Synopses & Reviews
The importance of religion and religious issues in today 's world is undeniable. Yet sociology of religion as it is conventionally taught in most undergraduate curricula does not reach a broad, lower division student population. Often, the sociology of religion course is taught as a more ivory tower subject than as a contemporary, issues-oriented subject. With the publication of this new, innovative text/reader, instructors are given a text that accomplishes two important goals: (1) first, an analytically rigorous presentation; (2) and one, thanks to the 5 unique foundational essays connected to 32 adapted readings, that allows instructors to involve their undergraduate students in the broad debates and issues that will equip them to analyze, discuss, and make their own judgments about religion/society long after they move on from the course.
Synopsis
Religion is a major force in contemporary society. It is also one of the least understood social and political influences on individuals and communities. In this innovative collection of original essays and classic readings, experts explore the significance of contemporary religiosity: as a source of meaning and motivation, how it unites and divides us, and how it is used politically and culturally. Readers will be introduced to the broad debates in ways that will equip them to analyze, discuss, and make their own judgments about religion and society. This book should be read by anyone interested in understanding religion as a central source of meaning and politics, and is ideally suited for undergraduate teaching on religion and social issues and from a global perspective.