James A. Beckford & N Jay Demerath 
The SAGE Handbook of the Sociology of Religion [PDF ebook] 

‘In their introduction to this Handbook, the editors affirm: ′Many sociologists have come to realise that it makes no sense now to omit religion from the repertoire of social scientific explanations of social life′. I wholeheartedly agree. I also suggest that this wide-ranging set of essays should become a starting-point for such enquiries. Each chapter is clear, comprehensive and well-structured – making the Handbook a real asset for all those engaged in the field.’


– Grace Davie, University of Exeter

‘Serious social scientists who care about making sense of the world can no longer ignore the fact that religious beliefs and practices are an important part of this world… This Handbook is a valuable resource for specialists and amateurs alike. The editors have done an exceptionally fine job of incorporating topics that illuminate the range and diversity of religion and its continuing significance throughout the world.’ 
– Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University

At a time when religions are increasingly affecting, and affected by, life beyond the narrowly sacred sphere, religion everywhere seems to be caught up in change and conflict. In the midst of this contention and confusion, the sociology of religion provides a rich source of understanding and explanation. This Handbook presents an unprecedentedly comprehensive assessment of the field, both where it has been and where it is headed. Like its many distinguished contributors, its topics and their coverage are truly global in their reach.

The Handbook′s 35 chapters are organized into eight sections: basic theories and debates; methods of studying religion; social forms and experiences of religion; issues of power and control in religious organizations; religion and politics; individual religious behaviour in social context; religion, self-identity and the life-course; and case studies of China, Eastern Europe, Israel, Japan, and Mexico.

Each chapter establishes benchmarks for the state of sociological thinking about religion in the 21st century and provides a rich bibliography for pursuing its subject further. Overall, the Handbook stretches the field conceptually, methodologically, comparatively, and historically. An indispensable source of guidance and insight for both students and scholars.

Choice ′Outstanding Academic Title′ 2009

Зміст

PART ONE: THEORIES AND CONCEPTS

The Classical Tradition in Sociology of Religion – Randall Collins

Assessing Modernities – Kevin J. Christiano

From ′Pre-′ to ′Post-′ to ′Ultra-′

Secularisation and Sacralisation Deconstructed and Reconstructed – N. J. Demerath III

Rational Choice and Religious Economies – Frank J. Lechner

Globalization and Localization – Peter Beyer

PART TWO: METHODS OF STUDYING RELIGION

Micro Qualitative Approaches to the Sociology of Religion – James V. Spickard

Phenomenologies, Interviews, Narratives, and Ethnographies

Surveys of Behaviour, Beliefs and Affiliation – David Voas

Micro-quantitative

History, Methodologies and the Study of Religion – John R. Hall

PART THREE: SOCIAL FORMS AND EXPERIENCES OF RELIGION

Congregations Resurgent – N. J. Demerath III & Arthur E Farnsley II

Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism – Paul Freston

The Politics of Global Popular Protestantism

From ′Cults′ to New Religious Movements – Thomas Robbins & Phillip Charles Lucas

Coherence, Definition and Conceptual Framing in the Study of New Religious Movements

New Age Religion and Irreligion – William Sims Bainbridge

Civil Religion in America and in Global Context – Marcela Cristi & Lorne L. Dawson

PART FOUR: ISSUES OF POWER AND CONTROL IN RELIGIOUS ORGANISATIONS

Keepers of the Tradition – Paula Nesbitt

Religious Professionals and their Careers

Orders and Schisms on the Sacred Periphery – Patricia Wittberg

Faith-based Initiatives – Arthur E. Farnsley II

Religion on the Internet – Douglas E. Cowan

PART FIVE: RELIGION AND POLITICS

Religion and the State – N. J. Demerath III

Violence and Human Rights

Religion and Regulation – J A Beckford & J T Richardson

Religion in Rebellion, Resistance and Social Movements – S E Nepstad and R H Williams

Religious Affiliations, Political Preferences, and Ideological Alignments – Laura R. Olson

PART SIX: INDIVIDUAL RELIGIOUS BEHAVIOUR IN SOCIAL CONTEXT

Cross-national Comparisons of Individual Religiosity – Pierre Bréchon

Rethinking the Relationship Between Ethnicity and Religion – Peter Kivisto

Religious Socialization among American Youth – John P. Bartkowski

How Faith Shapes Parents, Children, and Adolescents

Age, Generation and Cohort in American Religion and Spirituality – Michele Dillon

PART SEVEN: RELIGION, SELF-IDENTITY AND THE LIFE-COURSE

Religion and Identity – Arthur L. Greil & Lynn Davidman

Gender Differences in Religious Practice and Significance – Linda Woodhead

Embodiment, Emotion and Religious Experience – Phillip A. Mellor

Religion, Culture and the Charismatic Body

Religion as a Factor in Life and Death Through the Life-course – Stephen J. Hunt

PART EIGHT: CASE STUDIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Oligopoly Dynamics – Fenggang Yang

Official Religions in China

The Religious Landscape of Central and Eastern Europe After Communism – Irena Borowik

Judaism in Israel – Stephen Sharot

Public Religion, Neo-traditionalism, Messianism and Ethno-Religious Conflict

State Shinto and Religion in Post-war Japan – Susumu Shimazono

Mexico – Roberto J. Blancarte

A Mirror For the Sociology of Religion