User:Ad Re Spring 2008

[[1]]Sociology 2008

1. I am open to working as a group member on any of these projects, or on a Wikipedia entry by myself.
2. I am interested in social deviance, and/or macro sociology: social structure and how large groups of people react to social conditions.
3. I am a fine art student. I have experience with graphic presentations. I own and have experience with photoshop and some mid/high range digital photo equipment: Camera, Tripod, Etc (not SLR or Video). I also enjoy doing research and writing/editing.

Theory of Religious Economy

1. Objective I propose to edit the Wikipedia page on the Theory of Religious Economy. Theory_of_religious_economy
2. Interest This is interesting substantively because religion has a significant role in almost every culture around the globe and has a substantial impact on economical and social development within societies. The addition of information to the Theory of Religious Economy page will help present sociological concepts in relation to changes in one of the world's oldest organizations.
3. Background reading I will read Wikipedia, the text book and other basic sociology texts on the following topics: Rational Choice Theory, Contextual Effect, Social Institutions, Social Structure, Norms, Roles, and Secularization.
   1. I will also find scholarly research on the general issue of the Theory of Religious Economy. Posting links here.
   2. I will find popular press discussions of my topic. Perhaps Wikipedia articles, blog entrys, newspaper and magazine stories, etc.
4. General Plan I plan to research the sociological aspects of secularization and make several additions to the Theory of Religious Economy web page.
5. Collaborators I will be working alone.

Edits

User:Htw3/Spring_2008_Project_Page#Theory_of_Religious_Economy

1. Addition to initial description:

The Theory of Religious Economy argues that economic factors have a significant role in the development and success of organized religions. A religious economy consists of a market (or demand for religion) and a supply of different religious organizations. A competitive free market or economy makes it possible for religious suppliers to meet the demands of religious consumers with different religious preferences. By offering an array of religious products, a competitive religious economy stimulates activity in the marketplace

The Theory of Religious Economy takes into account a wide spectrum of issues (e.g., the differences between competitive religious markets and religious monopolies), making this theory one of the most significant developments in the social scientific study of religion during the past thirty years . Previous discussion of secularization usually assumes a decrease in the demand for religion on the basis of modern enlightenment . The Theory of Religious Economy focuses attention on religious suppliers and whether religious firms have the ability to increase the demand for religion .

Early Development

• H. Richard Niebuhr: In his 1929 publication, The Social Sources of Denominationalism, Niebuhr discusses the competing denominations of Christianity. Niebuhr states that economic factors are the primary cause of divisions of the church. Also, Niebuhr suggests that economic stratification is responsible for maintaining divisions in the church that were caused by other factors.