This third edition of Sociology of Religion introduces students to key principles in the sociological understanding of religion, with revisions and updates throughout. The book offers an overview of the nature and function of religious institutions and practices, asking sociological questions about the changing role of religion in today’s “post-traditional” world.
After an introduction to the many facets of religion and key theories for its study, the book examines central themes such as changes in religious life in the United States; the intersections between religion, social class, and power and between gender, sexuality, and religion; globalization and religion; religion in mass media; and more. The third edition features new material on the relationship of race and ethnicity to religion, the perceived rises of both secularism and fundamentalism, and the role of religion in public debates on sexuality.
Sociology of Religion addresses both the foundations of the field and the profound changes it has undergone, placing new examples against their historical background. Charts, photos, down-to-earth examples, and a readable style make the book an ideal introduction for students.
 
Review
Clearly written and comprehensive in scope, this revised edition provides a refreshing update of ongoing empirical developments, conceptual debates, and continuing challenges in understanding the complexity of religion in contemporary society. -- Michele Dillon, University of New Hampshire; coauthor of American Catholics in Transition
I am very impressed with Sociology of Religion: Contemporary Developments. This volume provides a thorough treatment of sociological theories of religion and discusses an array of important conceptual issues in the field. -- Dr. John P. Bartkowski, University of Texas at San Antonio
Sociology of Religion offers great coverage of topics, in terms of both breadth and depth. The book offers up-to-date treatment, an accessible and engaging writing style, and a very good supporting bibliography. -- Andrew Dawson, Lancaster University, United Kingdom
Previous edition praise: This excellent book may well be the best text on the sociology of religion in print. ― Teaching Sociology
 
About the Author
Kevin J. Christiano is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and a past president of the Association for the Sociology of Religion and the American Council for Québec Studies.
William H. Swatos, Jr., served as the executive officer of the Association for the Sociology of Religion and of the Religious Research Association for many years. He is senior priest and Canon Theologian of the Anglican diocese of Quincy, Illinois.
Peter Kivisto is the Richard A. Swanson Professor of Social Thought at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and a research fellow at the Università di Trento in Italy. An author or editor of more than twenty-five books, he is a member of the Council of the American Sociological Association.