SOC 3440 - Sociology of Religion

A comparative and critical study of religious institutions and practices that illuminates the nature and functioning of religion and its impact on societies, global-international events, social and moral issues, and human well-being. The comparative analysis addresses Western, Eastern, New Age, Native American, and unaffiliated groups such as agnostics, atheists, and existentialists, in terms of their defining beliefs and practices. Sociological phenomena that include socialization, social control, social identity, authority, power, law, political behavior, stratification, culture, social change, deviance, and gender are addressed. Emphasis is placed on correlates between religion and human well-being in terms of physical and mental health, achievement, deviance, marriage, divorce, and crime. Biological, historical, sociological, anthropological, psychological, and philosophical explanations of the origins of religion are reviewed. The critical analysis focuses on possible relationships between religion and moral and social problems such as overpopulation, war, violence, sexism, the separation of church and state, freedom, diversity, terrorism, and social change. The course concludes with an overview of major trends in contemporary religion.