Religion in Society: A Sociology of Religion

by Johnstone,Ronald

• ISBN13: 9780131884076
• ISBN10: 0131884077
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Using an unbiased, balanced approach, the 8th edition of this text puts religion in its social context by discussing the impact of society on religion while helpg readers understand the role and function of religion in society that occurregardlessof anyone's claims about the truth or falsity of religious systems.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
PART INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION
The Sociological Perspective	1	(20)
The Task of Sociology	2	(1)
Central Sociological Assumptions	3	(2)
The Sociology of Religion	5	(2)
Defining Religion	7	(1)
The Characteristics of Religion	8	(6)
A Working Definition of Religion	14	(1)
The Definition Applied to ``Magic''	15	(2)
Final Reflection on the Definition of Religion	17	(1)
A Concluding Historical Note: The Development of the Sociology of Religion	18	(2)
Notes	20	(1)
The Sources of Religion	21	(19)
Revelation as Origin	22	(1)
The ``Natural-Knowledge-of-God'' Explanation	23	(1)
Anthropological Explanations	24	(3)
Psychological Explanations	27	(2)
Sociological Views	29	(7)
Rational Choice Theory	36	(1)
Conclusion	37	(1)
Notes	38	(2)
PART II THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF RELIGION
Religion as a Group Phenomenon	40	(20)
Religion and the Characteristics of a Group	40	(3)
Religion and the Five Functional Prerequisites of Group Life	43	(6)
The Effects of Increasing Group Size	49	(2)
The Bureaucratization of Religion	51	(4)
Religious Leadership	55	(3)
Notes	58	(2)
The Church-Sect Continuum of Religious Organization	60	(31)
The Sect	61	(1)
The Church	62	(2)
The Denomination	64	(1)
The Formation of Sects	65	(2)
The Impact of Deprivation on Sect Development	67	(3)
The Evolution of Sects	70	(5)
The Institutionalized Sect	75	(3)
The Cult	78	(6)
Other Non-American Cults	84	(3)
Refinements of the Church-Sect Typology	87	(1)
Notes	88	(3)
Becoming Religious	91	(31)
Elements in Religious Socialization	92	(2)
Methods of Religious Socialization	94	(2)
Measuring the Impact of Religious Socialization	96	(3)
Sociological Definitions of Religiosity: Group Affiliation	99	(2)
Sociological Definitions of Religiosity: The Individual Approach	101	(3)
Sociological Measures of Religiosity: Multidimensional Measures	104	(2)
Internalization of Religion	106	(4)
Religious Conversion	110	(5)
Decon version	115	(2)
Deprogramming	117	(1)
Conclusion	118	(1)
Notes	118	(4)
Religious Conflict	122	(23)
Conflict Theory According to Karl Marx	123	(3)
Religious Conflict in History	126	(1)
Contemporary Examples of Religious Conflict	127	(7)
Intrareligious Conflict	134	(8)
Challenges to Society from Religious Groups	142	(1)
Conclusion	143	(1)
Notes	143	(2)
PART III RELIGION IN SOCIETY
Religion and Politics	145	(34)
The Relationship of Religion and Politics	147	(1)
The Influence of Religion on Politics	148	(19)
Civil Religion	167	(3)
Religion and Politics in the Third World	170	(6)
Notes	176	(3)
Religious Fundamentalism	179	(27)
The Concept of Fundamentalism: Its Origin and Use	180	(4)
Protestant Fundamentalism	184	(11)
Jewish Fundamentalism	195	(4)
Islamic Fundamentalism	199	(4)
The Future	203	(1)
Notes	204	(2)
Religion and the Economy	206	(15)
Religion as an Economic Institution	207	(1)
Religion as a Shaper of Economic Attitudes and Behavior	208	(9)
An Assessment of the Relationship between Religion and Economics	217	(2)
Notes	219	(2)
Religion and the Class System	221	(22)
Differences in Religious Meaning and Expression among Social Classes	222	(3)
Differential Denominational Affiliation by Social Class	225	(6)
Social Stratification within Religious Groups	231	(1)
Stratification, Religion, and Race	232	(8)
Notes	240	(3)
Women and Religion	243	(45)
The Relationship of Women to Religion as Societies Evolved	244	(1)
The Historical Patterns	245	(6)
Contemporary Responses	251	(25)
Female-Dominated Religions	276	(3)
Predictions	279	(3)
Application of Rational Choice Theory	282	(1)
Conclusion	283	(1)
Notes	283	(5)
PART IV RELIGION IN AMERICA
Major Historical Developments	288	(23)
Intolerant Beginnings	288	(2)
The Constitutional Compromise	290	(5)
The Frontier Challenge	295	(4)
The Ordeal of Pluralism	299	(4)
Religious Social Concern	303	(3)
The Post-World War II Revival	306	(3)
Notes	309	(2)
Black and Native American Religion in America	311	(33)
The Historical Development of the Black Church as a Social Institution	312	(7)
Militancy in the Black Church	319	(6)
New Themes in Black Religion	325	(5)
Other Religious Options for African Americans	330	(2)
Native American Religion	332	(8)
Notes	340	(4)
Denominational Society	344	(40)
The Multiplicity of Groups	345	(1)
The Diversity of Groups	346	(1)
Major Denominational Families	347	(18)
Special Interest Religious Groups	365	(1)
Ecumenism	366	(6)
The Megachurch Phenomenon	372	(4)
The Continued Viability of Denominationalism	376	(4)
Notes	380	(4)
The Future of Religion	384	(41)
Level of Religious Activity	385	(2)
The Growth and Decline of Membership	387	(8)
Impending Protestant Loss of Majority Religious Position	395	(2)
The Dilemmas of Roman Catholicism	397	(5)
Continuity in the Traditional Social Functions of Religion	402	(5)
The Factor of Secularization	407	(8)
The Conflict over the Purpose of Religion	415	(4)
Conclusion	419	(2)
Notes	421	(4)
Photo Credits	425	(2)
Index	427