The sociology of religion
Sociologists do not ask whether religious beliefs are true; they study what religion does in society.
Classic theories
Durkheim saw religion as a source of social solidarity, uniting people around shared sacred symbols. Marx called religion 'the opium of the people', arguing it eased suffering while distracting the poor from inequality. Weber, in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, argued that certain Protestant beliefs encouraged hard work and saving, helping capitalism grow.
Types of religious organisation
Sociologists distinguish ecclesia, a state religion to which most citizens belong; denominations, large established groups not tied to the state; sects, smaller groups that break away from a larger religion; and new religious movements or cults, which are new and often in tension with society. Over time sects can become denominations.
Secularisation and religious change
The secularisation thesis predicted that religion would decline as societies modernised. In parts of Europe, religious attendance has fallen sharply. But religion remains strong in much of the world, and in the United States many people describe themselves as 'spiritual but not religious', showing that belief is changing form rather than simply disappearing.
Flashcard
The declining influence of religion in society
Check your understanding
Which thinker argued that religion distracts the poor from inequality, calling it 'the opium of the people'?