Sociology of Religion and Anthropology of Religion are two systematic approaches that help us study and understand how religion "works"--or its role--in the life of humans. Sociology of Religion is the study of religious beliefs that cause certain social patterns. Anthropology of Religion is the study of the details of human life that are caused by religious belief.

Sociology of Religion

Sociology is about social patterns and anthropology is about the items and styles used by a specific religious group. There is much overlap between the two.

Sociology of religion is about social patterns caused by religious belief. Every religion has certain needs based on belief that determine such things as where people live and what they work. For example, some Amish believe that horse and buggy transportation should be used. Horse and buggy people will live in small tightly-knit clusters that accommodate their means of transportation. Horse and buggy people have certain needs that the general population does not have.

Examples of such needs are repair shops for buggies and blacksmith shops to shoe the horses. Other needs are harness shops, buggy accessories such as blankets, and heavy winter clothing for travel in the unheated buggy. More insulated mitts and boots will probably be sold in a horse and buggy area than anywhere else in the country.

Other religions have their own special needs. For example, Kosher food is not sold in areas where no Jewish people live. Work places dedicated to the preparation of Kosher food do not exist in such places, either. Thus, a Kosher food processor would probably not set up business in a predominantly Amish community. Thus, Amish and Orthodox Jewish people are not likely to cross paths very often even though they dress practically the same.

These social patterns impact wider society, too. For example, a doctor who does not want to work with a certain religious group is well advised not to set up practice in or near a geographical area where that group lives. The same goes for any other human service provider.

A very visible social pattern is education. Many Amish communities provide their own schools, and these are within walking distance of the students. Yellow school buses will not be a common sight in a community where no "outsiders" live. However, one and two-room school houses will be a common sight.

Topics in sociology of religion might include the special needs of certain religious communities, and how these needs make for certain social patterns.

Anthropology of Religion

Anthropology is the study of the items, objects, and beliefs of daily human life in a specific community, and how these items, objects, and beliefs cause social patterns.

For example, some Amish use horse and buggy transportation. Sociology asks: Why do we have small closely-knit communities of horse and buggy people? Anthropology asks: What social patterns does horse and buggy transportation cause? Anthropology of religion asks: What religious belief prompts these people to use horse and buggy transportation when automobile travel is readily available to them?

What people wear, what they eat, and how they see and understand the universe are topics of anthropology. How they see and understand the universe is anthropology of religion. Anthropology of religion looks at the religious beliefs that demand these items. In the case of the Amish, horse and buggy transportation is their expression of the belief that Christians should be separate from the world.

Every religion is impacted by its beliefs. And these beliefs impact the daily life of the humans in any given community. Whether religion or culture comes first is an open question. A quick look at life in East Asia, and an equally quick look at life in the Western world, show that religion and culture are intrinsically intertwined.

Things as basic as the names of the days of the week and national holidays derive from culture and religion. Culture forms religion and religion forms culture. This is the focus of anthropology of religion.

Topics in anthropology of religion might include the relationship of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the witches of Halloween with everyday life in the Western world. All of these icons come out of Western religion of past ages and are therefore of interest to anthropology of religion.

You will of course be dealing with the fundamentalist atheists as well?

Yes of course. When fundamentalist atheists start killing in the name of their deity we will deal with them, too.

Apparently you think atheism is a religion. You might find this helpful to see how atheists answer Christian arguments.

False: Atheists say there is no God.
True: Atheists say I see no evidence for God.

Theist: I believe in God.
Atheist: I have no belief in God.

Religious Person: Arranges life according to rules of religion. Also focuses on making a living, enjoying friends and family, and being happy.
Atheist: No religion. Focuses on making a living, enjoying friends and family, and being happy.

Conclusion: Fundamentalist atheists do not kill in the name of their deity because they do not have a deity. Atheism is not a religion because it is not a belief system.

Freethought and humanism are life philosophies that some atheists hold. Not all atheists hold these philosophies.

This thread is about sociology and anthropology of religion. It is impossible to talk about the sociology and anthropology of the religion of people who have no religion.

If you disagree that atheism is not a religion, please provide the evidence for your argument, and the names of the authors or websites where you found your information. Thank you.