OSHER 58 - Sociology of Religion

How does religion affect our political, social, and economic lives? Why are some religions mainstream, while others are labeled "cults"? What is the nature of religious conflict? Our course will dive into religion's place in the social world. We will explore the sociohistorical development of the major religious traditions, sociological theories of religion, and the rise of secularization in parts of the world. Crucially, our sociological approach will focus on the differential impacts of religion and secularization upon society from an impartial, non-theological perspective.