CRITICAL RE-EXAMINATION OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF RELIGION
Journal Title: Asian Journal Social Sciences & Humanities - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 2
Abstract
The views of sociologists on the nature and social functions of religion do not show any evidence of consensus, but rather great disparity. There is a clear case of overcomplication and over-intellectualization of religious phenomena. Even when there is a voluntary declaration of intention to observe agnostic neutrality and academic morality, many scholars are guilty of value judgment and subjective intrusion into the essence of religion. The question that is begging for answer is: if religion is a social institution with practitioners and specialists, is it reasonable to define religion apart, or away from the known practices of the votaries? When scholars in exercise of academic freedom say things, or propound a theory that have no bearing with religion in the practical sense, is it mandatory that such views be taken serious? These are some of the questions that this paper will attempt to answer. The paper examines the theories of religion by leading theorists in sociology of religion and came up with the conclusion that theory is different from practice. It is the opinion of this paper that some of the theories are outdated and do not deserve serious consideration in 21st century sociology. Religion as a social institution is dynamic, such that research findings of previous centuries, and epoch cannot remain valid forever. Social scientific study of religion is in dire need of contemporary theoretical analysis and that is the challenge before scholarship.
Authors and Affiliations
Etim E. Okon
CUSTOMER BRAND EQUITY AND SATISFACTION INFLUENCING BRAND LOYALTY
This paper means to look at the mediating impacts of customer satisfaction on the connection between customer-based brand equity and brand loyalty in the restaurant industry. This study is based on a sample of 220 studen...
Definite ‘The’ and Generic ‘The’ Distinction
The aim of this paper is to find out differences between definite ‘the’ and generic ‘the’ from traditional grammar to cognitive grammar concepts in order to help learners certainly understand when they use or analyze ‘th...
ERROR ANALYSIS ON STUDENTS' PERSIAN – ENGLISH TRANSLATION
This study was to identify and classify errors by analyzing students errors and a class of 10 were the subjects of the study. These students were considered advanced level. The study was also done to see how many...
Renaissance Literature Reveal Reawakeningof Human Mind
By the turn of fourteenth century, the Christendom was stimulated by the Arabic translations of the manuscripts of Greek and Roman writers such as Aristotle and Plato. Many lost works of ancient Greek writers flooded int...
Communication Problems in Second Language Learning at Federal Government Secondary Schools
The study was designed to analyze the development of listening and speaking skills in English at secondary level. The purpose of the study was to examine factors because of which students of Federal Government schools Si...