The Protestant Ethic And Spirit Of Capitalism By William H.

Sociology of religion is the study of beliefs and practices that individuals use in their daily life. While there is no formal definition of religion, scholarly academics study the interaction between people of a certain religion to comprehend what religion represents to certain groups of people. Religion is considered to be a combination of practicing beliefs or believing in higher living. In this section of “Sociology of Religion” by William H. Swatos Jr, he explains that there is no singular concept of sociology of religion. The thesis of this section of the text investigates the importance of sociology as a lens to view religion. Three key sociologists that are important for the transformation of sociology of religion is Emile Durkheim,

The thesis of Weber’s essay argues that certain religions that follow capitalism will prosper since the individuals change how they confront the problems they may face (Swatos Jr, 656). Weber’s essentialist definition recognizes religion as something that gives meaning to life. In Weber’s essay I believe that individuals of the protestant, work rather than work to live. Morality becomes significant when Durkheim analyzes religion in the context of the patterning of social relationships on the belief of supernatural powers (Swatos Jr, 656). A key point Swatos Jr presents focuses on whether or not they are studying a single religion or multiple. The purpose of a sociologist of religion is to study religions that consider themselves to be religious, for example Muslims or Mormons. Their purpose is to study “how personal beliefs get turned into action, why people do or do not chose to share their beliefs” (Swatos Jr, 657). Thus, economic backwardness has an important role in understanding religion, which is crucial in addition to considering the scientific study of

One of Parsons student Robert Merton, created the “Merton Thesis”, which uses Weber’s thesis to bring into the concept of science and religion. Merton as well contributed the elaborated structural-functional paradigm, by introducing the concept of dysfunction and distinction between manifest and latent function, through studies of religion, delinquency, medicine, and law (Swatos Jr, 658). Benton Johnson another student of Parsons, argued that churchly traditions “encourages literacy, appropriate modes of dress, sexuality, and money management; while discouraging behaviours like drunkenness, promiscuity, and violence” (Swatos Jr, 658). Johnson’s idea of churchly traditions concentrates on certain behaviours that individuals should acquire when practicing particular