Importance Of Sociology Of Religion

Sociology of religion which has been introduced to the science world in the nineteenth century is of western origin. Sociology of religion whose areas of interest have diversified since its birth has been subjected to a divide as classical period and modern period over time. The classical period has an important effect on the modern period. When the studies of the classical period sociologists -Comte, Durkheim and Weber- are examined, it is observed that both general studies have been carried out and the methodology of sociology as a new field of science and sociology of religion have been tried to be established. It can be stated that the systemized and methodic sociology of religion has laid the groundwork to the studies which have been degraded

For instance, Structural-Functionalists have examined religion as one of the may institutions in a society. Durkheim has dealt with religion by degrading it to a totem statue. As conflict theorists see religion as inherently bad and opium of the masses, religion is a social structure which serves as an instrument for imperialists to increase their dominance over the poor and the weak. Whereas the interactionist approach mostly focuses on issues such as piousness, religious conversion process and self-perception of people in different

Sociological interpretations of Islam, instead of the social change which occurred in a certain process, have been mostly included in the study. Therefore, these assessments have not been dealt with on the basis of facts. Where as the specific studies conducted on the issue are more problem-oriented and these studies need to be collected together for a sociological