SOCb2122 Sociology of religion

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Roman Vido, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Iva Šmídová, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! SOC122 Sociology of religion
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The main objective of this course is to make students acquainted with the discipline of sociology of religion. After a short outline of general traits of sociology of religion attention will be paid to basic topics of sociological analysis of religion. Students will get a basic idea about the content and potential of sociology of religion and its links with general sociology, some other sociological disciplines and other sciences interested in religion. Despite theoretical orientation of the course, empirical ilustrations of the selected problems will be also included. After successful graduation of the course students will be able to identify key questions about a relationship between religion and (modern) society, to apply theoretical knowledge to empirical situations from contemporary society and to explain the role and the position of religion in modern society and its relations to other societal institutions (politics, economics etc.).
Learning outcomes
Students will get a basic knowledge about the basic theories and concepts included in the sociology of religion and will be familar with its links with general sociology. At the same time, they will be able to apply the acquired knowledge on the particular empirical examples.
Syllabus
  • 1. Sociology of religion: object and approach
  • 2. A definition and dimensions of religion
  • 3. Religion in the individual perspective
  • 4. Social basis of religion
  • 5. Typologies of religious collectivities
  • 6. Dynamics of religious collectivities
  • 7. Social functions of religion: cohesion and conflict
  • 8. Religion, politics, and the public sphere
  • 9. Religion and social change
  • 10. Classical sociological theories of religion
  • 11. Modern sociological theories of religion
  • 12. Religion in the sociological research
Literature
  • FURSETH, Inger and Pål REPSTAD. An introduction to the sociology of religion : classical and contemporary perspectives. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006, 241 s. ISBN 0754656535. info
  • MCGUIRE, Meredith B. Religion : the social context. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Thomson Learning, 2002, xvii, 413. ISBN 0534541267. info
  • NEŠPOR, Zdeněk and Dušan LUŽNÝ. Sociologie náboženství (Sociology of Religions). 1st ed. Praha: Portál, 2007, 236 pp. 1;. ISBN 978-80-7367-251-5. info
  • VÁCLAVÍK, David, Zdeněk NEŠPOR, Iva DOLEŽALOVÁ, Eleonóra HAMAR, Dana HAMPLOVÁ, Olga NEŠPOROVÁ and Jiří VEČERNÍK. Příručka sociologie náboženství (Handbook of Sociology of Religion). Spoluautor. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2008, 449 pp. Studijní texty ; sv. 44. ISBN 978-80-86429-92-2. info
  • The SAGE handbook of the sociology of religion. Edited by James A. Beckford - N. J. Demerath III. 1st ed. London: SAGE Publications, 2007, xvii, 746. ISBN 9781412911955. info
  • DILLON, Michele. A handbook of the sociology of religion. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003, xiii, 481. ISBN 0521000785. URL info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, reading of literature
Assessment methods
Classes consist of two parts: lecture and class discussion. Students write regular mini-tests from the prescribed literature. During the semester, each student elaborates a presentation about a chosen topic (in PowerPoint) and writes an essay. The course is finished by an oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/SOCb2122