Sociology of Religion

It is one of the more curious ironies of modern industrial societies that, while religious belief is declining, interest in religion as a phenomenon flourishes. This paradox is of particular interest to sociologists, for in spite of its declining status, religious belief remains one of the most important sources of meaning and morality.

In this collection of Readings, Roland Robertson examines the status and function of religion in a wide range of different societies and explores such questions as the growth of substitutes for religions in advanced societies, and the symbolic significance of primitive beliefs.

“This selection of twenty-five Readings successfully provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of the sociology of religion. Robertson has made the selection as up to date as possible and tried to establish a pattern of concerns which are central to the field as a sociological discipline. The Readings both indicate analytic concerns and provide a range of empirical materials.” —Peter L. Berger, in New Society