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14.2: Introduction to Sociological Views on Religion

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    60241

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    What you’ll learn to do: identify and explain how major sociological perspectives view religion

    A woman with a head covering is in the middle of the photo holding a cup. There is a cross and a depiction of Jesus Christ out of focus in the background.
    Figure 1. A woman administers communion, a religious ceremony, dispensing wine and bread to a line of congregants. (Photo courtesy of Alex Proimos/Wikimedia Commons)

    Religion describes the beliefs, values, and practices related to sacred or spiritual concerns. It is a social institution, because it serves societal needs, including a sense of community. Religion is also an example of a cultural universal, because it is found in all societies in one form or another. Functionalism, conflict theory, and interactionism all provide valuable ways for sociologists to understand religion.

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    • Introduction to Sociological Views on Religion. Authored by: Sarah Hoiland for Lumen Learning. Provided by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution
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    This page titled 14.2: Introduction to Sociological Views on Religion is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lumen Learning.

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