ABSTRACT
It is hardly possible to state brieÀy and irrefutably what sociology is. We may say that sociology is the study of human social life, in groups and in communities, but such a statement does not offer an adequate distinction between sociology and other disciplines, for example, history. Our aim is not to make strict distinctions between different disciplines. Such distinctions do not descend from the sky: they are the result of an obscure mixture of speci¿c differences, professional interests, academic and political power structures, and historical coincidences. Even so, highlighting some key characteristics that are commonly used to describe sociology as a discipline can be useful. This issue will be dealt with here and then we will continue by considering the differences between the sociology of religion and other fields of sociology – and between the sociology of religion and other disciplines that study religion. Along the way, a few themes and perspectives will be introduced, to which we will return throughout the book.
