Religion, Power, and Social Change

Catalog description

Why hasn't religion disappeared? Many social theorists predicted that the power and influence of religion would fade away during the modernization process, yet religion remains a vital force in contemporary societies around the world. This course provides social scientific and humanities perspectives on religion and society, with an emphasis on the ways in which religion is implicated in issues of power and inequality and the roles religion has played in social change. In doing so, students will consider the impact that religion continues to have on individuals' lives and local communities as well as society more broadly. 002186