Weber And The Persistence Of Religion - Social Theory, Capitalism & The Sublime
(Routledge Advances in Sociology S.)
Book by Joseph W. H. Lough (Author) 
This book presents a clear and compelling case for the intimate practical relationship between religion and capitalism. It signals a major change in how social scientists are beginning to interpret capitalism, religion and growing public hostility against secular society. It offers a new understanding of Weber and Weberian sociology and Marx's mature social theory and also contains significant commentary of figures such as Kant, Foucault and Lyotard.

Reading Religion in Text And Context - Reflections of Faith And Practice in Religious Materials
(Theology and Religion in Interdisciplinary Perspective ... the Bsa Sociology of Religion Study Group.) (Hardcover) 
Book by Elisabeth Arweck (Editor), Peter Collins (Editor) 

Handbook of the Sociology of Religion by Michele Dillon (Editor) - August 18, 2003

"Michele Dillon has done sociology of religion a great service by bringing together many of its most distinguished and promising practitioners to address the field at large according to their special competencies and interests. She also succeeded in getting many of them to take each other's papers into account, so that the whole book hangs together....I cannot resist the observation that Dillon's roster of contributors is an all-star cast....In view of the overall breadth and general excellence of the chapters and could serve as the main text for an upper division or graduate survey course in sociology of religion. It will certainly serve as a resource for the preparation of lectures, not to mention as a stimulus to research. Nonetheless, at $30, the book is a bargain. It should be in the library of everyone who reads this review." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion "Editor Michele Dillon has pulled off quite an impressive feat: soliciting, assembling, and publishing 28 original essays by some of the top sociologists of religion in the United States....The majority of chapters are plainly articulated, informed by sound theory, and bolstered by compelling data....the list of contributors is the closest thing to a 'who's who` of contemporary sociologists of religion to appear in one text that I am aware of. For sociologists of religion, this is easily the best single compendium of research and theory to come out in years, and a hearty testament to the vitality and dynamism of the state of our crucial discipline." Phil Zuckerman, Pitzer College, Contemporary Sociology

Book Description Religion is a critical construct for understanding contemporary social life. It illuminates the everyday experiences and practices of many individuals, is a significant component of diverse institutional processes including politics, gender relations, and socioeconomic inequality, and plays a vital role in public culture and social change. This handbook showcases current research and thinking in the sociology of religion. The contributors, all active writers and researchers int eh area, provide original chapters focusing on select aspects of their own engagement with the field. Aimed at students and scholars who want to know more about the sociology of religion, this handbook also provides a resource for sociologists in general by integrating broader questions of sociology (e.g. demography, ethnicity, life course, inequality, political sociology) into the analysis of religion. Broadly inclusive of traditional research topics (modernity, secularization, politics) as well as newer interests (feminism, spirituality, faith-based community action), this handbook illustrates the validity of diverse theoretical perspectives and research designs to understanding the multilayered nature of religion as a sociological phenomenon.

Sociology of Religion - A Reader - Book by Susanne C. Monahan (Author), William A. Mirola (Author), Michael O. Emerson (Author) 
This collection of articles explores the relationship between the structure and culture of religion and various aspects of social life in the United States. Based on both classic and contemporary research in the sociology of religion, it highlights a variety of research methods and theoretical approaches in exploring the ways in which religious values, beliefs and practices shape the world outside of church, synagogue, or mosque walls while simultaneously being shaped by the non-religious forces operating in that world. Many readings from drawn popular sources--e.g., newspapers and magazines--and although many of the readings are about religion in the Christian tradition, there are also readings about religion outside the American context (e.g., Poland, England, El Salvador, Nicaragua), and beyond the Christian tradition (e.g., Judaism, alternative religions, Hindu traditions). Classic Sociological Definitions Of Religion; Belief And Ritual; Religious Experience; Race, Ethnicity And Religion; Gender And Religion; Social Class And Religion; Sexual Identity And Religion; The Secularization Debate; Religious Organizations, Institutions And Authority; Alternative Religions; Media And Religion; Politics And Religion; Science And Religion; Social Movements And Religion. For anyone interested in the sociology of religion or religious perspectives on social issues. 
From the Inside Flap
Preface: Although we teach in very different settings—a mid-sized state university, a private Catholic college, and a private university—each of us looks forward to our opportunities to teach Sociology of Religion to undergraduate students. There is something about the study of the social aspects of religion that makes for a good class, a class that teaches itself. Students who take a Sociology of Religion class seem especially motivated to struggle with the material, and they typically have a wide range of personal experiences to draw upon as they apply abstract principles to instances of religion in their own lives. 
The study of religion in modern society is an exciting enterprise. No matter what you are interested in—the structure and experiences of particular religious groups, the overall state of religion in society, religious belief, ritual and experience, the relation between religion and other social institutions—there is a plethora of resources including books, journals, and research monographs you can draw on. Unfortunately, however, securing copyright permissions for "course packets" has become increasingly complex and difficult. We hope that by constructing a reader that covers a broad range of topics we can meet our own needs as well as those of other instructors who teach in this area. 
The focus of this reader is on the structure and culture of religion in the United States. Thus, many of the readings are about religion in the Christian tradition. Nonetheless, where it was feasible, we included readings about religion outside the American context (e.g., Poland, England, El Salvador, Nicaragua), and beyond the Christian tradition (e.g., Judaism, alternative religions, Hindu traditions). This reader is not intended to be a survey of religion, but rather an introduction to the social aspects of religion, particularly within the United States. 
The readings are arranged by topic, and each topic has a brief introductory essay that outlines some key issues and orients students to the readings. Some of the essays focus on defining concepts related to the readings; others provide an overall framework students can use to understand how the readings fit together and what they contribute to our knowledge about the topic. We also include readings from popular sources—newspapers, magazines, and the like—to help students connect more abstract material with things that they see in their day-to-day lives. For instructors, we provide a cross-reference table that provides suggestions for other topics for which an article might be appropriate. 
Following a brief introduction by Wade Clark Roof about what is most interesting and exciting in religion today, we present classical sociological definitions of religion by theorists including Emil Durkheim, Clifford Geertz, Karl Marx, and Peter Berger. In teaching the Sociology of Religion, we have been amazed at how much discussion these classical statements generate among students. We continue with sections that focus on the "stuff" of religion—belief, ritual, and religious experience. We then present several sections on how religion is related to various aspects of identity: race and ethnicity, gender, social class, and sexual identity. We put this material early in the volume because religious participation has a powerful ability to shape how we see ourselves-and how we interact with others. 
Next, we move to structural concerns. We introduce students to the secularization debate that has raged recently in the sociology of religion: Is religion declining or is it thriving? We follow with sections on organizational aspects of official religion—authority, organizations, and institutions—and on alternative religions. Because religion does not exist in a vacuum, we also include sections examining the relationship between religion and different social institutions: media, politics, and science. We end with a section on the role of religion in social movements and social change. 
Although this book covers a lot of topics, we certainly do not expect any one course to include all of the sections or readings. In other courses that we teach, we generally consider a reader to be useful if it can serve as the primary text for a course and if we can use at least one-half to two-thirds of the readings. Additionally, we have tried to organize sections according to common understandings of topics in Sociology of Religion, so that it can be used with a standard textbook or an existing syllabus of topics. 
Our discussions about this book began when we were all participants in the Pew Charitable Trusts's Young Scholars of American Religion seminar series between 1997 and 1999. This seminar series was ably run by the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Conrad Cherry, Terry Grimm, and Bob Carpenter all had a hand in developing and implementing an intellectual endeavor that created lasting bonds—both professional and personal—among the participants. 
By design, the Young Scholars seminars focused equally on the research and teaching endeavors of junior-level scholars of American religion. It was during our discussions of teaching that the idea of pulling together a reader for Sociology of Religion first emerged. Our colleagues in this seminar series contributed original essays to this volume, and we thank each of them: Lori Beamon, Patricia Chang, Eric Gormly, William MacDonald, Richard Wood, and Wendy Young. We also owe many thanks to Wade Clark Roof for providing expert, hands-off leadership in the seminar and an introduction to this volume. Conrad Kanagy, also a Young Scholar participant, was extremely helpful as we thought about whether to do this book and how to go about finding a publisher. His other responsibilities made it impossible for him to make a written contribution to the project, but his mark is nonetheless on our final product. Photos in this volume have been generously provided by Beth Quinn, Josie Virgin, and the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. 
This volume was reviewed by a number of people at various stages of development: David Bromley, Virginia Commonwealth University; Helen M. Hacker, New School for Social Research; Anson Shupe, Indiana University, Purdue University; and Rhys H. Williams, Southern Illinois University. We thank them for their incisive and constructive feedback. 
The staff at Prentice-Hall—John Chillingworth, Nancy Roberts, and Allison Westlake—have been very supportive of this project, and very patient about working with a large and sometimes unwieldy bunch of people. We thank them as well. Finally, we have personal debts to Joni Emerson, Jim LeGrand, Jennifer Norman, Mandy Rager, Anne Monahan, and Tom Horgan for their support and assistance as we worked on this project. 
Read on! We hope that you will find the study of religion and society to be as engaging and exciting as we do.

The Sociology of Religion by Max Weber Book by Ann Swidler (Foreword), Ephraim Fischoff (Translator) 

A "classic" that is now quite archaic, January 14, 2000
Reviewer: Mike Fisher (Springfield, MO USA)
Weber's book was groundbreaking when it was first published. Even today, it is considered a classic. However, the reader should be informed that Weber's book is full of white Germanic Christian bias, a bias so strong at times that it harms the author's credibility. However, if read in tandem with later works which critique it, Weber's "Sociology of Religion" provides a glimpse of early 20th century sociological methodology
Reviewer: Ahato@hotmail.com (Madison Wisconsin)
In reading books written by Weber, you should read this book at last. this book is very core of his idea, and it's the most important one in the present term. I profoundly hope you to read this book. 

The Sociology of Religion - Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives - Book by Malcol Hamilton (Author)
An expanded second edition, this clear and comprehensive introduction to the sociology of religion incorporates the ideas of the main theorists with a wide range of material that illustrates the large expanse of religious beliefs and practices. Malcolm Hamilton presents a broad comparative view that draws on insights in history, anthropology and sociology. The Sociology of Religion encompasses both classic and contemporary theories to present a full picture of the variety and span of theoretical perspectives.
The newly expanded second edition brings the discussion fully up to date reflecting the current debates and developments in the field.
Malcolm Hamilton is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Reading. His other works include Sociology and the World's Religions and Democratic Socialism in Britain and Sweden. 

The Blackwell Companion to Sociology of Religion - Book by Richard K. Fenn (Editor) 
This Companion, edited by one of the best known and most widely respected sociologists of religion, provides essential reading for sociologists and religion scholars. The Blackwell Companion to Sociology of Religion is presented in three comprehensive parts. Written by a range of outstanding academics, the volume explores the current status of the sociology of religion, and how it might look in future.Contributors discuss the major social trends which will affect, or be affected by, religion in the near future, encompassing all aspects of the sociology of religion. Expertly edited by Richard Fenn, the Companion concludes with a section affirming statements and connections made previously in the book, and tracing the boundaries between sociology and other closely related disciplines, such as theology and social anthropology. 
Richard K Fenn is Maxwell M Upson Professor of Christianity and Society at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is one of the most senior and influential practitioners of his discipline currently at work. He is the author of numerous critically-acclaimed books.

Sociology and the Worlds Religions - Book by Malcolm B. Hamilton (Author)
Sociological and related studies of systems of religion tend to be fragmented. This book brings together and assesses a diverse range of substantive sociological, anthropological and social-psychological scholarship dealing with the broad spectrum of religious belief, experience and behavior from the work of anthropologists on the religions of tribal and pre-industrial peoples to explorations of the origins, development and impact of the great world religions. 
Malcolm B. Hamilton is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Reading.

Sociology of Religion - Contemporary Developments - Book by Christiano Kevin J. (Author)
Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments charts changes in the sociology of religion without ignoring the continuing relevance of Weber, Durkheim, and Marx. Veteran sociologists Christiano, Swatos, and Kivisto address both the foundations and the profound changes in the field, placing new conceptions against their historical background. Charts, pictures, down-to-earth examples, and a readable style keep the history and new developments within the reach of undergraduates. Instructors who want to give their students a current and comprehensive overview of the field should take a look at Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments. Visit our website for sample chapters! 
Kevin J. Christiano is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame. Over two decades he has published research on such subjects as religion and the family, church membership and labor activism, Roman Catholics among immigrants to the United States, and American denominations at the turn of the last century. William H. Swatos, Jr., is Executive Director of the Association for the Sociology of Religion and of the Religious Research Association. His concentrations include secularization, church-sect theory, religion and slave-master relations in the antebellum South, Icelandic spirituality, family and sexuality and social theory. He also holds a degree in theology and is an Episcopal priest. Bill is editor-in-chief of the "Encyclopedia of Religion and Society" (AltaMira Pres, 1998). Peter Kivisto is currently Professor and Chair of Sociology at Augustana College, where he has taught for twenty years. Peter teaches courses in social theory, race and ethnicity, and crime, as well as introductory sociology and has written or edited texts in most of these areas. 

Religion and Everyday Life - Book by Stephen Hunt (Author) 
Religion and Everyday Life explores the historical and contemporary relevance of religion to social life through an examination of practice and belief. In this introductory textbook, Stephen Hunt reconsiders how theories and concepts are lived at the level of selfhood and cultural identity, through religious and spiritual belief.
Individual chapters cover a range of issues, such as: religion, identity, and community; secularization and pluralism; traditional Christianity: change and continuity; globalization and the global context; and religion and ethnicity.

Religion in the Contemporary World - A Sociological Introduction - Book by Alan Aldridge (Author)
In this wide-ranging and accessible book, Alan Aldridge reviews the contribution sociologists have made to our understanding of the role of religion in society.The founders of sociology thought that religion and magic were being replaced by science and technology. Some, such as Marx, saw this as a liberation. Others, including Comte, invented substitute religions, none of which has survived. Today many sociologists believe religion has lost social significance. Yet current affairs and everyday experience provide evidence of religion's continuing importance. The book examines the resurgence of fundamentalism in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It also explores the reasons why conservative movements such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons have been so successful in gaining recruits. A conventional view of sexuality and gender roles is a striking feature of all these movements.The rise of consumer society does not necessarily spell the end of religion. A growing number of sociologists argue that religion benefits from a free market, where religious 'firms' are sensitive to their customers' needs. Consumerism, Aldridge suggests, may bring a religious revival and an evolution of new forms of religion fit for a new millennium. 
Alan Aldridge is a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Nottingham. 

Handbook of Religion and Social Institutions - Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research
Book by Helen Rose Ebaugh (Editor) 
Handbook for Religion and Social Institutions is written for sociologists who study a variety of sub-disciplines and are interested in recent studies and theoretical approaches that relate religious variables to their particular area of interest. The handbook focuses on several major themes: - Social Institutions such as Politics, Economics, Education, Health and Social Welfare - Family and the Life Cycle - Inequality - Social Control - Culture - Religion as a Social Institution and in a Global Perspective This handbook will be of interest to social scientists including sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists, and other researchers whose study brings them in contact with the study of religion and its impact on social institutions.

Why Conservative Churches Are Growing - A Study in Sociology of Religion - Book by Dean M. Kelley (Author) 
Important Book for Students of American Religion, May 25, 2006
Reviewer: Lost (Fresno, Ca USA)
In 1969 Peter Berger told the New York Times that religious people would soon be huddled together in little enclaves, surrounded by a sea of secularity. In doing so, he was simply making explicit the philosophy of history implicit in social theory since its founding. According to this philosophy, Christianity became Protestant, then liberal Protestant, then vaguely and privately spiritual, moving inevitably towards secularism. In the 60s and into the 70s the data on American religion seemed to support this story - at least in mainline churches. First published in 1972, this book directed attention to the surprising and theoretically problematic fact of growing conservative churches, precisely those churches that were most demanding and seemingly ill-equipped for the modern world. As secularization and modernization theory crumbled with the resurgence of conservative religion in public life in the US and around the world (see Jose Casanova's Public Religions in the Modern World), it became clear that conservative religion was not going away quietly and that social science had been dead wrong. Kelley was among the first to recognize that there was something mistaken with social science's predictions of a secular future. His book was part of a dramatic, if belated, recognition among scholars that lots of Americans find conservative, strict Churches profoundly attractive. 

A Comparative Sociology of World Religions - Virtuosi, Priests, and Popular Religion
Book by Stephen Sharot (Author)
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, September 2002
"A paradigm of analytical comprehension that should set a standard for the field." 
"Sharot makes a substantial contribution to the maturation of the comparative sociology of religion. A distinctive feature of the book is its accent on popular religion, a much studied phenomenon these days ." -Martin Marty 
The many books on the world's religions typically emphasize doctrine ( religion "in the air"), while sociology of religion books typically emphasize behavior (religion "on the ground"). Stephen Sharot does both in this masterful study, the product of many years of research. His book should have great classroom potential as well as a prominent place on religion scholars' bookshelves. -Phillip Hammond, D. Mackenzie Brown Professor of Religious Studies 
A Sociology of World Religions presents a comparative analysis of the world's religions, focusing on the differences and interrelationships between religious elites and lay masses. In each case the volume contextualizes how the relationships between these two religious forms fit within, and are influenced by, the wider socio-political environment. 
After introducing the book's major themes, the volume introduces and builds upon an analysis of Weber's model of religious action, drawing on Durkheim, Marxist scholars, and the work of contemporary sociologists and anthropolgists. The following chapters each focus on major religious cultures, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Judaism, and the religions of China and Japan. This ambitious project is the first to offer a comparison of the popular, or folk, forms of religion around the world. 
Sharot's accessible introductions to each of the world religions, synthesizing a vast literature on popular religion from sociology, anthropology, and historians of religion, make the project ideal for course use. His comparative approach and original analyses will prove rewarding even for experts on each of the world religions. 

Religion and Family in a Changing Society - Princeton Studies in Cultural Sociology
Book by Penny Edgell (Author)
Sally K. Gallagher Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion : Penny Edgell's new monograph provides a much-needed analysis of the intersections of religion and family life.
Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University : The research in this book is more extensive than almost anything else on this topic--and this is a topic that has received considerable attention in recent years. The particular attractiveness of the book is its combination of qualitative and quantitative evidence. I can think of no other book that brings the two together in this way.
Don Browning, University of Chicago : This book is a significant contribution to the contemporary discussion about the relation of family to religious institutions in the United States. It corrects several misunderstandings and clarifies a number of ambiguities about the religion-family link. It also displays a sophisticated social-science methodology and makes important theoretical contributions to both social theory and the sociology of religion.

Islam and the Integration of Society - International Library of Sociology F: The Sociology of Religion (International Library of Sociology) (Hardcover) 
Book by Montgomery Watt (Author)

Defending the Durkheimian Tradition - Religion, Emotion And Morality - Rethinking Classical Sociology
Book by Jonathan S. Fish (Author)