<p> <b>For undergraduate/graduate courses in the Sociology of Religion in departments of Sociology; and for courses such as Religious Perspectives on Social Issues in departments of Theology.</b> </p> <p> <i> <b> <i>A reader that seeks to explore the relationship between the structure and culture of religion and various elements of social life in the U.S.</i> </b> </i> </p> <p>Sociology of Religion: A Reader, 2e is ideal as either a standalone reader or supplement to the text written by the same author team, <i>Why Religion Matters</i>. Based on both classic and contemporary research in the sociology of religion, this reader highlights a variety of research methods and theoretical approaches. It explores the ways in which religious values, beliefs and practices shape the world <i>outside</i> of church, synagogue, or mosque walls while simultaneously being shaped <i>by</i> the non-religious forces operating in that world.</p>