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THE SOCIOLOGY of RELIGION
Social Organization; Beliefs and Rituals
by Phil Bartle, PhD
Introduction to the Module (Hub)
Documents Included in this Religion Module
- Akan Religion Pre Christian Gods and Ancestors
- Notes on Religion (Beliefs and Social Organization)
- Early Sociological Contributions
- Religion and Earlier Societies
- Religion and Agriculture
- How Far Can We Go with Reincarnation?
- Religion and Suppression of Free Thinking
- The Shift to Monotheism
- Knowing
- From Sacred and Profane to Secular
- Peace and Religion
- Truth and History
- Graduating from Cult to Religion
- Beliefs Without Religion
Sociology as a science does not ask if there is a supernatural, but does ask how beliefs in the supernatural affect social organization and patterns of behaviour.
This module has set of short papers about variations in beliefs and practices. Like other important aspects of culture and society, religions are affected by, if not a product of, the variations in technology underwent by human populations.
It also contains a series of illustrated essays on the traditional or historical religions of the Akan people of West Africa, overlaid as it now is by the efforts and effects of European missionaries.
The sociological study of religions is valuable both to beginning sociology students and to community mobilisers.
Social observers gain much insight into the nature and workings of any society by looking at beliefs, the social organizations revolving around those beliefs, and the various practices, rituals and relationships that come along with that social organization.
Community mobilisers, meanwhile, can choose more effective strategies for empowering communities, for assisting them to make their own choices and to become self reliant, if the mobilisers know and understand the religious variables in each community.
Also see: From Cult to Religion, in the Social Change module.
Also see Ancient Bengali Religion.
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Appreciate the Wide Variety of Beliefs and Practices:
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