"Religion in Sociological Perspective is an introduction to the systems of meaning, structure, and belonging that make up the complex social phenomena we know as religion. First and foremost, the authors seek to convey the perspective from which sociologists view religion, and to be illustrative rather than all-encompassing. They describe the contributions of various theoretical perspectives (conflict, functional, social constructionist, rational choice); discuss the limitations of each theory; and integrate the various theories into an overarching framework, the open systems model, which stresses both structure and dynamic process. This text enables students to understand the central theories and methods of research in the sociology of religion, and how to apply these analytical tools to new groups they encounter"-- Provided by publisher.