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This book offers a history of sociological theory from a Christian perspective, tracing the origins of sociology from the beginnings of Western science as introduced by the Scholastics of the twelfth century, which, when combined with their emphasis on rationality, led to the Enlightenment "science of man"—an emphasis that eventually resulted in sociology, which combined empiricism and a Christian moral philosophy. With chapters focusing on the Scholastics, the Enlightenment, the rise of sociology in France, Germany, and the United States, and the legacy of Positivism, Christianity and Sociological Theory shows how the emphasis on moral philosophy was eventually lost as sociology rejected Christian underpinnings, resulting in what can only be described as an extremely limited sociology. A rigorous exploration of the trajectory of the discipline from its Christian origins, this volume reveals the potential that exists for sociology in an era of postmodern thought to reclaim its promise through a re-introduction of Christianity.
Religion lies near the heart of the classical sociological tradition, yet it no longer occupies the same place within the contemporary sociological enterprise. This relative absence has left sociology under-prepared for thinking about religion’s continuing importance in new issues, movements, and events in the twenty-first century. This book seeks to address this lacunae by offering a variety of theoretical perspectives on the study of religion that bridge the gap between mainstream concerns of sociologists and the sociology of religion. Following an assessment of the current state of the field, the authors develop an emerging critical perspective within the sociology of religion with particular focus on the importance of historical background. Re-assessing the themes of aesthetics, listening and different degrees of spiritual self-discipline, the authors draw on ethnographic studies of religious involvement in Norway and the UK. They highlight the importance of power in the sociology of religion with help from Pierre Bourdieu, Marx and Critical Discourse Analysis. This book points to emerging currents in the field and offers a productive and lively way forward, not just for sociological theory of religion, but for the sociology of religion more generally.
Sociology and Christianity? Attempting to bring sociology and Christianity together is like trying to mix oil and water. Christians seem to have as little regard for sociology as sociologists generally have for Christianity. However, in the middle of this conflict there is a group bold enough to call themselves "Christian sociologists"; they are not willing to be stereotyped but are seriously committed to both realms. This collection of essays covers topics that are typically addressed in introductory sociology courses. Written from a Christian point of view, these essays are also geared for a wide range of readers from undergraduates to professional sociologists who bring faith commitments to the sociological task. The editors' goal is to provide an understanding of societal forces that is informed by a Christian conscience. Toward that end, certain recurring themes are found in this book: the need for informed Christian social action, the conflict between the individual and the community, the conflict between freedom and determinism, and the significance of social sin.
"Hidden Threads: A Christian Critique of Sociological Theory, provides a framework for making sense of the social world. Heddendorf finds in sociological theories some "hidden threads" - Christian principles woven into the fabric of society. Early Christian thought was radical in its approach to social life. Jesus provided a different concept of the person, and encouraged his followers to act upon this new understanding. Thus, in the early centuries after Christ, Christian social thought was a dynamic, positive, social force, but today the situation differs. Many Christians readily accept current interpretations of problems as valid. Consequently, in response to these modern explanations, Christians develop a form of secularized thought which supports popular solutions and fails to critically engage with the real issues of the day. Hidden Threads is an examination and Christian critique of sociological theory, demonstrating appreciation for the richness of social life and holding in tension those theories that attempt to explain it." --Book Jacket.
This book provides a rationale for a Christian sociology, challenging the materialist epistemology of contemporary sociology, which provides only a limited understanding of social behavior. Developing a history of the origins of sociology that recognizes the centrality of Christianity to the discipline’s development, it considers the secularization thesis and questions surrounding positivism, scientism and postmodernism, as well as engaging with the work of a range of figures including Margaret Archer, Robert Bellah, Peter Berger, Hans Joas, Thomas Luckmann, David Martin, and Christian Smith. A critique of modern sociology, which argues that a Christian approach provides a better explanation than contemporary paradigms of the polarization occurring today in American society, The Not So Outrageous Idea of a Christian Sociology will appeal to scholars and students with interests in sociological theory, research methods and epistemology, and the sociology of religion.
Almost all the great religious thinkers of the past have developed a social as well as theological doctrine, but their sociology was as a rule merely implicit in their work or at best half formulated so that careful study and analysis is needed to bring it out. This is the task which Dr. Stark has set himself in the present essays. He has searched the writings of St. Augustine, Paschal, Newman and Kierkegaard for the sociological ideas they contain and shows that their social philosophies were varied, profound, fascinating and surprisingly definite. Dr. Stark seeks the theological conceptions present in, and basic to, the teachings of some outstanding secular sociologists, economists and philosophers, such as Adam Smith, Kant, Hegel, Marx, the Darwinians, Bergson Scheler and Meinecke and proves that their systems were built around a religious centre even though they themselves were at times unaware of it.
This text is a highly sociological view of religion and as such stresses theoretical perspectives about religion. The text also focuses on the methodology that sociologists have used to study religion. Keith Roberts states that his own preferred approach is open systems theory, which he says focuses equally on structure and dynamics. Other texts may lean toward the religious studies end of the market, but Roberts is a true sociology text.
Many aspects of religion are puzzling these days. This 2003 book looks at ways of improving our understanding of religious change by strengthening the links between social theory and the social scientific study of religion. It clarifies the social processes involved in constructing religion and non-religion in public and private life. Taking illustrations of the importance of these boundaries from studies of secularisation, religious diversity, globalisation, religious movements and self-identity, Beckford reviews social scientific knowledge about religion and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of a wide range of theoretical attempts to account for religious change and continuity. The discussion goes in two directions. The first is towards identifying ways in which studies of religion would benefit from taking better account of themes in recent social theory. The second is towards identifying reasons for social theorists to pay more attention to the findings of empirical investigations of religion.
Readings in the Sociology of Religion is a collection of articles that examines the sociological aspects of religion. The title discusses the contemporary theories, concept, and studies about the sociology of religion. The text first details the concept of sociology of religion, along with the relationship between religion and sociological theory. Next, the selection covers the theoretical development of the sociology of religion and Weber's sociological theory, as well as the modern dilemma of value and belief in the social sciences. The last part tackles the types of research in sociology of religion. The book will be of great interest to sociologists and behavioral scientists. Individuals who have a keen interest in the interaction between religion and society will also benefit from the text.