Sociology of Reigious
Drawing mainly upon Max Weber’s sociology of religion—his virtuoso/mass religiosity distinction, the sect-church dynamic, the communicative linkages between creators and social carriers—you are to investigate the social history of a religious movement or “heresy” that “failed” to achieve prominent world-historical status. That is to say, choose a cult, sect, or other religious organization that either:
a) faded into oblivion;
b) was absorbed into a more successful movement; or
c) maintained only a modest, marginal, or “niche” social presence throughout its history.
You are to offer a sociological explanation of the historical trajectory of that particular religious movement. Organize your thoughts by drawing mainly upon our discussion of Weber’s historical-sociological approach from the lectures (and perhaps Bulliet’s S-curve conversion theory).
Attend especially to the key social structural factors that worked against any wider social successes of the movement, and also to the internal self-definitional, organizational, and doctrinal aspects that may have limited the religion’s public appeal or efficacy. Any special historical circumstances should also be addressed.