Religion and sociology are both now part of the interesting world that we live in, and it is important that we understand their difference. But first we must see that they belong to two different categories of things: religion is undeniably one of the oldest and most powerful forces in human society. Sociology is a very recent social science which studies human society.
Therefore religion is one of social facts that sociology should study and in fact sociology has helped us understand much about the structure and function of religion.
Some sociologists have had a poor opinion of religion. Karl Marx wrote that 'religion is the opiate of the masses', implying that religion was simply a devise by which powerful people kept poor people content with their powerlessness. Most sociologists, however, believe that religion's role has been to integrate society and to guard its social order.
Most religions are based on traditions that have a long history. The origins and transmission of those traditions are difficult to evaluate. Some sociologists have concluded that they are inventions. However there are some religions that claim to be based on revelations made to religious leaders in history.
Rodney Stark is one well-known contemporary sociologist who has been writing about religion recently, and has presented a very strongly reasoned case for the Judo-Christian religion being established on revelations supported by historical facts.
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