We will be examing classical sociologists of religion, considering the extent to which they are scholarly conversation partners and data for our work today.
Key Words
In this chapter, I’d like you to make a chart with the following categories: Name, Date, Understanding of Society, and central theory of religion. You’ll then fill out the chart using the names below.
- Harriet Martineau
- Karl Marx
- Emile Durkheim
- Ida B. Wells-Barnett
- Max Weber
- Georg Simmel
- W. E. B. Du Bois
- Talcott Parsons
Textbook Readings
Inger Furseth and Pål Repstad, “Classical Sociologists and Their Theories of Religion,” 38-64 in An Introduction to the Sociology of Religoin: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives, Second Edition. Routledge.
Julie Ingersoll, “Is Europe Less Religious Than North America?” 165-167 in Religion in 5 Mintues. Equinox.
Sarah E. Dees, “Were African Slaves Forced to Become Christians When They Got to Plantations?” 168-171 in Religion in 5 Mintues. Equinox.
Mushegh Asatryan, “What does Jihad Really Mean?” 180-183 in Religion in 5 Mintues. Equinox.
Craig Martin, “Why do People Fight so Much Over Their Religious Beliefs?” 112-114 in Religion in 5 Mintues. Equinox.
Case Study
Melissa Fleur Afshar, “Are Gen Zers Becoming More Religious,” Newsweek, April 18, 2025.
Datasets
“Populations and Sampling,” ARDA: The Association of Religion Data Archives.
