Changes

[[Max Weber]] (1864 – 1920) thought that the truth claims of religious movement were irrelevant for the scientific study of the movements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> He portrayed each religion as rational and consistent in their respective societies.<ref>Kunin, page 38</ref>

[[Max Weber]] (1864 – 1920) thought that the truth claims of religious movement were irrelevant for the scientific study of the movements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> He portrayed each religion as rational and consistent in their respective societies.<ref>Kunin, page 38</ref>

Weber acknowledged that religion had a strong social component, but diverged from Durkheim by arguing, for example in his book  [[The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] that religion can be a force of change in society. In the book Weber wrote that modern [[capitalism]] spread quickly partially due to the Protestant wordly ascetic morale.<ref>(Kunin)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> Weber's main focus was not on developing a theory of religion but on the interaction between society and religion, while introducing concepts that are still widely used in the [[sociology of religion]]. These concept include

Weber acknowledged that religion had a strong social component, but diverged from Durkheim by arguing, for example in his book  [[The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] that religion can be a force of change in society. In the book Weber wrote that modern [[capitalism]] spread quickly partially due to the Protestant wordly ascetic morale.<ref>(Kunin)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/Theory.htm |title=Theory |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Nielsen, Donald A. |date=1998  |work=Encyclopedia of Religion and Society edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.|publisher=Altamira}}</ref> Weber's main focus was not on developing a theory of religion but on the interaction between society and religion, while introducing concepts that are still widely used in the [[sociology of religion]]. These concept include

*[[Church sect typology]],<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/cstheory.htm</ref> Weber distinguished between [[sect]]s and churches by stating that membership of the former is a choice while the latter is determined by birth. The typology later developed more extensively by his friend [[Ernst Troeltsch]] and others.<ref name="Bendix49-50">{{cite book |last=Bendix |title=Max Weber |url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0520031946&id=63sC9uaYqQsC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=5_6_YcPUQvbgsE5Qo2--jiKG13s  

*[[Church sect typology]],<ref>http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/cstheory.htm</ref> Weber distinguished between [[sect]]s and churches by stating that membership of the former is a choice while the latter is determined by birth. The typology later developed more extensively by his friend [[Ernst Troeltsch]] and others.<ref name="Bendix49-50">{{cite book |last=Bendix |title=Max Weber |url=https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0520031946&id=63sC9uaYqQsC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=5_6_YcPUQvbgsE5Qo2--jiKG13s  

|pages=49–50}}</ref> According to the typology, churches, [[Ecclesia (sociology of religion)|ecclesia]], [[denomination]], and [[sect]]s form a continuum with decreasing influence on society. Sects are protest break away groups and tend to be in tension with society.  

|pages=49–50}}</ref> According to the typology, churches, [[Ecclesia (sociology of religion)|ecclesia]], [[denomination]], and [[sect]]s form a continuum with decreasing influence on society. Sects are protest break away groups and tend to be in tension with society.  

*[[Ideal type]], a hypothetical "pure" or "clear" form, used in [[typology|typologie]]s

*[[Ideal type]], a hypothetical "pure" or "clear" form, used in [[typology|typologie]]s

{{Main|Clifford_Geertz#Thought_and_works|Thick description}}

{{Main|Clifford_Geertz#Thought_and_works|Thick description}}

The [[anthropology|anthropologist]] [[Clifford Geertz]] (1926 – 2006) made several detailed [[ethnography|ethnographic]] studies, but in a [[Java]]nese town, a more complex and multi-religious society than Evans-Pritchard had studied. He avoided the subjective and vague concept of [[group attitude]] as used by [[Ruth Benedict]] by using the analysis of society as proposed by [[Talcott Parsons]] who in turn had adapted it from [[Max Weber]].<ref>Pals, page 239</ref> Parsons' adaptation Weber's consisted of distinguished all human groups on three levels i.e. ''1.'' an individual level that is controlled by ''2.'' a [[social system]] that is in turn controlled by ''3.'' a [[cultural system]].<ref>Pals, page 239</ref> Geertz followed Weber when he wrote that man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun and the analysis of it to be therefore not an experimental science in search of law but an interpretive one in search of meaning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/obituaries/01geertz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |title=Clifford Geertz, Cultural Anthropologist, Is Dead at 80 |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Andrew L. Yarrow |date=November 1, 2006 |work= |publisher=New York Times}}</ref> Mere explanations to describe religions and cultures are not sufficient. Interpretations are needed too.<ref>(Pals)</ref> He advocated what he called ''[[thick description]]s'' to interpret symbols by observing them in use. Therefore, the anthropologist must be both empirically rigorous and a savvy interpreter, akin to a psychoanalyst. In 1972 he wrote that “cultural analysis is (or should be) guessing at meanings, assessing the guesses and drawing explanatory conclusions from the better guesses.”

The [[anthropology|anthropologist]] [[Clifford Geertz]] (1926 – 2006) made several detailed [[ethnography|ethnographic]] studies, but in a [[Java]]nese town, a more complex and multi-religious society than Evans-Pritchard had studied. He avoided the subjective and vague concept of [[group attitude]] as used by [[Ruth Benedict]] by using the analysis of society as proposed by [[Talcott Parsons]] who in turn had adapted it from [[Max Weber]].<ref>Pals, page 239</ref> Parsons' adaptation Weber's consisted of distinguished all human groups on three levels i.e. ''1.'' an individual level that is controlled by ''2.'' a [[social system]] that is in turn controlled by ''3.'' a [[cultural system]].<ref>Pals, page 239</ref> Geertz followed Weber when he wrote that man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun and the analysis of it to be therefore not an experimental science in search of law but an interpretive one in search of meaning.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/obituaries/01geertz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |title=Clifford Geertz, Cultural Anthropologist, Is Dead at 80 |accessdate=2008-03-14 |author=Andrew L. Yarrow |date=November 1, 2006 |work= |publisher=New York Times}}</ref> Mere explanations to describe religions and cultures are not sufficient. Interpretations are needed too.<ref>(Pals)</ref> He advocated what he called ''[[thick description]]s'' to interpret symbols by observing them in use. Therefore, the anthropologist must be both empirically rigorous and a savvy interpreter, akin to a psychoanalyst. In 1972 he wrote that “cultural analysis is (or should be) guessing at meanings, assessing the guesses and drawing explanatory conclusions from the better guesses.”

<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/obituaries/01geertz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Clifford Geertz, Cultural Anthropologist, Is Dead at 80] by Andrew L. Yarrow published on November 1, 2006 in the [[New York Times]]</ref>

<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/obituaries/01geertz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Clifford Geertz, Cultural Anthropologist, Is Dead at 80] by Andrew L. Yarrow published on November 1, 2006 in the [[New York Times]]</ref>

Geertz saw religion as one of the [[cultural system]]s of a society. He defined religion as  

Geertz saw religion as one of the [[cultural system]]s of a society. He defined religion as  

==References==

==References==

*[[Reinhard Bendix|Bendix Reinhard]], ''Max Weber: An Intellectual Portrait'', 1977 (originally published in 1960), University of California Press, ISBN 0520031946 [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0520031946&id=63sC9uaYqQsC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=5_6_YcPUQvbgsE5Qo2--jiKG13s Google books]

*[[Reinhard Bendix|Bendix Reinhard]], ''Max Weber: An Intellectual Portrait'', 1977 (originally published in 1960), University of California Press, ISBN 0520031946 [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0520031946&id=63sC9uaYqQsC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=5_6_YcPUQvbgsE5Qo2--jiKG13s Google books]

*[[John R. Hinnells|Hinnells, John R. (editor)]], ''The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion'' (Routledge 2005) [http://books.google.nl/books?id=p4Exlk7gPrIC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=stark+bainbridge+towards+a+theory+of+religion&source=web&ots=BnHm7Suifa&sig=VGeYh243V5eu_XmE2uNbHGAEIRE&hl=en#PPP1,M1 Google books]

*[[John R. Hinnells|Hinnells, John R. (editor)]], ''The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion'' (Routledge 2005) [http://books.google.nl/books?id=p4Exlk7gPrIC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=stark+bainbridge+towards+a+theory+of+religion&source=web&ots=BnHm7Suifa&sig=VGeYh243V5eu_XmE2uNbHGAEIRE&hl=en#PPP1,M1 Google books]

*Nauta, André (1998). [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/StarkR.htm Stark, Rodney] in  the ''Encyclopedia of Religion and Society'' edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.. Altamira.

*Nauta, André (1998). [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/StarkR.htm Stark, Rodney] in  the ''Encyclopedia of Religion and Society'' edited by William H. Swatos, Jr.. Altamira.

*[[Rodney Stark|Stark, Rodney]] & [[William Sims Bainbridge]] "Theory of Religion". Rutgers University Press 1996, (originally published in 1987) ISBN 0813523303 [http://books.google.nl/books?id=9kA0LW4PA6cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=theory+of+Religion&hl=en&sig=MPZSubsGuUIDVYdeGNYveiVyq-M Google books] [http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-theory-of-religion-by-william-sims-bainbridge-rodney-stark.jsp Questia selected preview]

*[[Rodney Stark|Stark, Rodney]] & [[William Sims Bainbridge]] "Theory of Religion". Rutgers University Press 1996, (originally published in 1987) ISBN 0813523303 [http://books.google.nl/books?id=9kA0LW4PA6cC&printsec=frontcover&dq=theory+of+Religion&hl=en&sig=MPZSubsGuUIDVYdeGNYveiVyq-M Google books] [http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-theory-of-religion-by-william-sims-bainbridge-rodney-stark.jsp Questia selected preview]

*Swatos, William H. Jr. Editor Encyclopedia of Religion and Society  by Altamira press 1998 [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/coverpage.htm web version]

*Swatos, William H. Jr. Editor Encyclopedia of Religion and Society  by Altamira press 1998 [http://hirr.hartsem.edu/ency/coverpage.htm web version]

*Yarrow, Andrew L. (November 1, 2006). Clifford Geertz, Cultural Anthropologist, Is Dead at 80. New York Times. [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/obituaries/01geertz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin online version]

*Yarrow, Andrew L. (November 1, 2006). Clifford Geertz, Cultural Anthropologist, Is Dead at 80. New York Times. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/obituaries/01geertz.html?_r=1&oref=slogin online version]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]