Sociology of Religion
FIELD RESEARCH
IN
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION
INTERNATIONAL BUDDHIST COLLEGE
LECTURER: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR PORNTHIPA
BANTOMSIN
Department of Philosophy and Religion, Faculty of
Humanities Faculty,
Srinakharinvirot University, Bangkok
What is sociology of Religion?
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Classical Sociologists
Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)
Religion and its effect on society
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Max Weber (1864-1920)
German Thinker (philosopher & sociologist)
Founder of Sociology and Sociology of Religion
Auguste C.,
Karl Marx,
Emile D.,
Max Weber
Positivism Auguste C., Karl Marx., Emile D.,
Anti-positivism - Max Weber
August Comte believed in single organism of society.
Religion was a social glue keeping the separate sector intact.
Weber's famous work on the sociology of religion started
with the essay,
“ The protestant ethics and the spirit of Capitalism”
and then,
“ The analysis of the religion of China, India and
Judaism.”
His thought stated on how religious ideas effected on
economic activities.
The puritan Christianity had an impact on economic
growth in Europe and North America.
Rationalism play roles in scientific development and
Mathematics.
Result :
1. Tradition religion vanish with the
growth of science then it would
have to be replaced with a new
of religion based upon sound
scientific principles.
2. The study of science in connection to
social unity and cohesion is sociology
3. The beginning of studying applied sociology
- analysis and synthesis
- the relation between layperson and monks
- the meaning of ritual performance in
religions
- the meaning of Gods and Gods in relation
to human psychology
- the roots of religion / The origin of religion
- religion and mystic
Comte believed that religion would
disappear entirely in a modern
rational society.
Religion is the product of reason and
and of the human capacity to generalize
in an attempt to understand and explain
the world.
Religion and Ideology
Karl Marx
-Functionalism
-Religion role in society
-Class interest in the society
-A tool for the manipulation and
Oppression of the subordinate class in
society
Marx observed that:
Christian believe that God created man
In his own image whereas the truth is
that man created God in his own image.
Man makes religion, religion does not make
Man.
Religion is the self-consciousness of man
who has either not yet found himself or has
already lost himself again.
Society produce religion.
Religion is the sign of the oppressed
creature, the heart of a heartless world,
just as it is the spirit of a spiritless
situation. It is the opium of the people.
Marx said that:
The criticism of religion disillusion man
to make him think and act and shape his
reality like a man who has been disillusioned
and has come to reason, so that he will
revolve round himself and therefore round his
true sun. Religion is only the illusory sun
which revolves round man as long as he
does not revolve round himself.
Engels expressed the idea:
Religion…is nothing but the fantastic in
men’s minds of those external forces which
control their daily life, a reflection in which
the terrestrial forces assume the form of
supernatural life.
Criticisms of Marx;
The Marxist approach tends to ignore
Many aspect of religion, to oversimplify a
complex phenomenon, and to make
sweeping generalization.
Marxist theory can only explain human
condition in term of matter but can not
give the answer of human suffering, life and
death and so on.
Marx thought that the growth of class
consciousness would be a turning away
from religion which in reality it is not true.
Marxist theory cannot give us the clear
picture of the relationship between
religion and class consciousness and
the
level of class division in modern day
society.
Therefore, Marx cannot produce a
comprehensive analysis of religion.
What is the main area of study in
sociology of religion?
-Ritual and its effect on social value
-Social functions of religion
(Durkhiem) collective consciousness
-Religion and politics
-How religion can maintain social
order ?
-Religion , science and Technology
Example of research topics in
sociology of religion
What religious think about the poor?
Immigrant and the faith they bring.
Anti-modernism, modernism, and
postmodernism, struggle with the cultural
Significance of new religion
The ‘Free Monks’ Phenomenon: Music
and Modernity in Contemporary Greek
Orthodoxy
Methods for Exploring Primordial
Elements of Youth Spirituality
A brief description of: Clergy Women: An
Uphill Calling
Dying a Martyr’s Death:
The Political Culture of Self-Sacrifice in
Contemporary Islamists
Exploring the Role of Media in Religious
Identity-construction Among Teens
How to conduct field research in
philosophy and Religion ?
- Topic
- Make a Survey of the place
- Mapping
-Interview/ group interview or personnel
- interview / How many times?
- Ethics codes / truth telling
- Result of the research for public/private
benefit
Instruments;
-tape recorder/ camera / video camera
-questionnaire
How to gather the information from the
Questionnaires?
Read it carefully with critical mind.
How to write the questionnaire?
Focus on objectives of your research.
Set questions which are relevant to
objectives. Rechecking question
Good Observation/ good planning/
appointment / Participatory method
Collected information orderly from
questionnaire as soon as possible, and note
it down.
What is Mixed-method?
Documentary Research and Field
Research can be used as methodologies
In either philosophy or religious studies
In religion and philosophy
Qualitative research use more than
Quantitative research
How to write?
In scientific research , the report is written
base on fact, on what researcher discover or
laboratory test.
In social science and Humanities, the
research report is based on documents, or
gathering informations in field research such
as from interviewer, location of the place and
etc. (depend on area of studies)
How to convince the reader/ or clarify
your argumentation/ describe or explain
About X ?
Logic is needed.
You have to design your writing style.
Remember, using words is always need time
To think./ Dictionary is a great help
Clarify your thought
From chapter to chapter, the content should
be related, and writing academic work
should be direct to the point.
Reading can help you on how to write.
Reread and listen to the comments
No contradiction from paragraph to
paragraph
Confirm your view point
Critical Analysis
Suggestions
Thesis
How to write reference?
APA , MLA, and Chicago style of
citation
Chicago style of citation
How to type?
Diagram
Table
Picture
Map
Where to put ?
Put reference underneath / explanation
Be careful !
Spelling mistake
Gap/ between sentences/ sign
Paragraph
Other languages
Write with clarity thought and mind with
support from the original text when it is
necessary with references.
How to write the article?
Summaries content of your thesis.
Should not be too long
Choose the proper Journal
Answering the objectives of the research
Cleary, analysis and suggestions must appear.