Karl Weber, Karl Marx, And The Sociology Of Religion

Sociology of Religion

The origins of Sociology in its self is considered a new practice which began in the early nineteenth century, and has only been around for approximately 200 years.

This is a very short time compared to other practices. “The renewed global importance of religion from North and South America to South and East Asia, from Europe to the

Middle East and Africa has had a profound impact on the sociology of religion,”

Hinnells, J. (2010). The populous was no longer separated by geographical location thanks to the innovations in travel, and technology. Therefore, this led to a population explosion where people migrated to urban areas. The modernization of the world had begun to transform our societies by exposing

The birth of sociology began with French philosopher Aguste Comte who became one of the first to use and apply this new method of study in the analysis of society. Comte wanted to use scientific facts in his quest to study the world, and saw sociology playing a central role in guiding it in a time of social change. Our cities began to grow, and religion flourished causing a dramatic shift in our lives. The three individuals most responsible for the modernization of sociology was Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx, these were three of the major thinkers in the discipline of sociology of religion. Durkheim, Weber, and Marx also had extensive training and education in other fields of study. All three had intended for their contributions to enact social change, by focusing on social issues, such as religion.

Max Weber: Max Weber was born April 21,1864 in Prussia (Germany) and was a German

sociologist and economist. Weber has made many important theoretical contributions to

sociology and is regarded as one of the founders of this discipline. One of Weber’s

Karl Marx:

Marx was born on May 5,1818 in Prussia (Germany) and held many titles like

economist, and political theorist, but he was best known for his discipline, as a

sociologist. Marx is held in high regards in today’s science of sociology like his counter

parts Durkheim and Weber. Marx was a well-known atheist and all his work clearly

showed that. Marx was eager to point out the flaws of capitalism and its association with

religion. He believed that if the class structure of capitalism was deconstructed then

religion would just disappear. Marx stated, “The abolition of religion as the illusory

happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give

up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that

requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that

vale of tears of which religion is the halo.” Karl Marx “Critique of Hagel’s Philosophy of

Right.” (1843). Marx was under the impression that religion is only an illusion, and

possible used as a crutch in our daily lives. Others beg to argue that Marx was