Why Do Sociologists Study Religion?

About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about why sociologists are interested in religion. We begin by outlining secularisation theory, as developed by Karl Marx and Max Weber, focusing in particular on: (i) secularisation theory has been widely challenged; (ii) religion forms many people’s worldviews; (iii) it is necessary to understand contemporary conflicts; (iv) it helps to understand other areas of sociology, such as gender; (v) it is central to two core sociological issues - the problem of order and the problem of meaning.

About the lecturer

Professor Chris Shilling is Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. He has written widely across a range of issues in sociological theory, including religion and the sociology of the body. His recent publications include Uncovering Social Life: Critical Perspectives from Sociology (2017, as co-author), The Body: A Very Short Introduction (2016), and Sociology of the Sacred: Religion, Embodiment and Social Change (2014, as co-author).