Sociology of Religion 

About: Sociology of Religion is an academic journal published by Oxford University Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Sociology of religion & Poison control. It has an ISSN identifier of 1069-4404. Over the lifetime, 1777 publications have been published receiving 40100 citations.

Secularization, R.I.P.

Abstract: From the beginning, social scientists have celebrated the secularization thesis despite the fact that it never was consistent with empirical reality. More than 150 years ago Tocqueville pointed out that the facts by no means accord with [the secularization] theory, and this lack of accord has grown far worse since then. Indeed, the only shred of credibility for the notion that secularization has been taking place has depended on contrasts between now and a bygone Age of Faith. In this essay I assemble the work of many recent historians who are unanimous that the Age of Faith is pure nostalgia - that lack of religious participation was, if anything, even more widespread in medieval times than now. Next, I demonstrate that there have been no recent religious changes in Christendom that are consistent with the secularization thesis - not even among scientists. I also expand assessment of the secularization doctrine to non-Christian societies showing that not even the highly magical folk religions in Asia have shown the slightest declines in response to quite rapid modernization. Final words are offered as secularization is laid to rest

Becoming Muslim: The Development of a Religious Identity

Abstract: This study explores the process of religious identity formation and examines the emergence of religion as the most salient source of personal and social identity for a group of second-generation Muslim Americans. Drawing on data gathered through participant observation, focus groups, and individual interviews with Muslim university students in New York and Colorado, three stages of religious identity development are presented: religion as ascribed identity; religion as chosen identity; and religion as declared identity. This research illustrates how religious identity emerges in social and historical context and demonstrates that its development is variable rather than static. Additionally, I discuss the impacts of September 11 and show how a crisis event can impel a particular identity-in this case, religious-to become even more central to an individual's concept of self. Through asserting the primacy of their religious identity over other forms of social identity, religion became a powerful base of personal identification and collective association for these young Muslims.

Religion as Context: Hellfire and Delinquency One More Time*

Abstract: More than 10 years ago the author proposed a contextual-interactional explanation of the fact that research done on the West Coast fails to find a relationship between religious commitment and delinquency, while studies done elsewhere invariably find a strong negatit)e correlation. Unfortunately, because of various deficiencies, subsequent studies that claimed to test the contextual explanation have not done so-leaving the literature more confused than ever. In an effort to clarify matters, this paper carefully restates the contextual thee and then tests it on data from a ve7y large survey of high school seniors. The results demonstrate the erastence of a very potent contextual effect.