Synopses & Reviews
This theory-based text is purposefully selective rather than comprehensive and takes an integrated, global approach to examining religion in various cultures. Students learn to identify both the complex interactions between religion and societal context and the ways in which these interactions shape individuals, communities, national politics, and the world society.
Table of Contents
1. The Sociological Perspective on Religion. 2. The Provision of Meaning and Belonging. 3. The Individual's Religion. 4. Official and Nonofficial Religion. 5. The Dynamics of Religious Collectives. 6. Religion, Social Cohesion, and Conflict. 7. The Impact of Religion on Social Change. 8. Religion in the Modern World.