RLGN 3075 Religion and Social Theory
Working from the classics, Durkheim, Marx, Weber, Mead, Parsons and Bellah, we will examine religious consciousness within a general theory of human action. Historical and comparative frameworks will be used to identify the role religious expression and activity has played in society and social organization. We will explore the major themes of secularization, modernization, religion and politics, civil religion, religious movements, rise of fundamentalism, and civility and religion. Examples of contemporary religious activity will be drawn from cross-cultural and cross-national perspectives.