Class Solidarity and System Integration
In recent years it has become widely accepted that the provision of a cogent perspective on religion requires a systematic amalgamation of the sociology of religion with the sociology of knowledge. This attempt at theoretical amalgamation runs into a perennial difficulty in the sociology of knowledg...
| Published in: | Sociological analysis |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
1977
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| In: |
Sociological analysis
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | In recent years it has become widely accepted that the provision of a cogent perspective on religion requires a systematic amalgamation of the sociology of religion with the sociology of knowledge. This attempt at theoretical amalgamation runs into a perennial difficulty in the sociology of knowledge as to whether belief systems are attached to total social systems or whether social groups (social classes, social strata and communities) are carriers of social beliefs. The origin of this difficulty can be found in Marx's analysis of the superstructure. Similar analytical difficulties are found in the sociological theories of Mannheim, Weber and Berger. The solution of this difficulty is to produce a “mechanism theory of religion.” By legitimating the wealth of the dominant class and compensating for the deprivations of the subordinate classes, the same religion can both integrate the social system and give expression to class solidarity and class interests. Such a theory of religion has obvious analytical problems in relation to its conceptualization of social stratification, psychological needs and the role of ideology. The persistence of the theory in a variety of forms pinpoints certain crucial shortcomings in both the sociology of religion and knowledge. These failures illustrate some general weaknesses in the state of sociology as a whole. |
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| ISSN: | 2325-7873 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Sociological analysis
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/3710118 |