Branch of Religious Studies - Sociology of Religion

Religion and science have been coexisting for a long time. Their relationship can not be called easy, because science in its essence is protesting against religious beliefs in the divine essence, proving the superiority of nature. Science explains all phenomena from the point of view of processes undergoing analysis, which discloses it from the chemical, physical and other points of view. There are many works on the theme "Science and Religion". The writing on a similar theme was revealed by modern and more ancient historical and scientific figures.

Religion has been analyzed from the earliest times, however, the analysis was only philosophical, which did not deprive theology of the right to life. Only since the nineteenth century does the scientific approach to the notion of Science and Religion begin to appear. The history of the relationship between these two important components of human life is complex. It is impossible not to realize their importance. Philosophical approach to the study of religion implies the consideration of the spiritual side of the issue, in which the most important are the concepts of the place of man on earth, the struggle of the spiritual and material, and so on. The scientific approach implies the consideration of religion in terms of its importance in public life, its value impact on human thinking and others.

Science and religion are an essay that can not be solved without a deep awareness of the merits and demerits of each participant. Only deeply understanding the essence of the matter a person realizes that both play an enormous role in the formation of a normal modern society with a rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Science studies religion through various methods, among which the historical, ethnographic and anthropological methods stand out.

As a result of scientific research, there appeared such a concept as the sociology of religion, which later developed into a separate part of sociology. It is interesting that its foundations were laid in philosophy. The scientists of the world fame - O.Cont, M. Weber and E. Durkheim - began to engage in the discovery of this science. With the help of sociology they tried to solve social problems, one of which was religion. She tried to explain using various scientific approaches.

The sociology of religion is an area that for a long time was engaged in the founding of sociology by O. Comte. He distinguished three stages of development of society:
1) theological (all phenomena are explained by divine providence, which allows us to use the church as the main institution of power),
2) metaphysical (an attempt to move from the belief in the supernatural to abstract entities and causes),
3) scientific (replaces religious institutions, uniting society and becoming the main regulator of order).

O. Comte tried to solve with the help of religion the problem of social orientation, not doing at the same time its scientific research. Weber and Durkheim realized precisely the scientific approach, through which the sociology of religion became an independent branch of religious studies.

M. Weber in the Soviet study of religion does not come from its historical origin. For him, the only question is the influence of religion on the life of society and the formation of its behavior, excluding the solution of the problem of falsity and the truth of religion. In his scientific works, Weber points to the mutual influence of society and religion.

The sociology of religion was fundamentally different in the treatment of E. Durkheim. For him, religion is a social fact, to which standard methods of evaluation and methodology can be applied. For him, religion is a social institution that arose naturally in order to solve certain social needs.

Thus, the formation of ideas about what science and religion was. The history of relationships is intertwined very closely, explaining the behavior of society at various stages of its development. To date, one can not imagine the absence of one of these institutions, since each of them performs extremely important social functions, ensuring the spiritual and cultural development of mankind.