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From Chapter 6 it stated that “...Objects, knowledge, practices and institutions in the social world are…the products of the human interaction and social construction.” (Connolly, 193). Sociologists ponder on the relationship between personal circumstances and beliefs about gods or God. Sociologists also question the features of religious belief satisfying in particular life circumstances. This approach is important because religion motivates the society/culture. Religion motivates the political world, traditional customs, and family values and nationalism. Sociological approaches are also good because we can learn more about cults (NRM), New Age religions, political movements, culture and secularization.

Sociological approaches emphasis on the interaction between religion and society. The founders of sociology were Comte, Weber, Marx and Durkheim. Auguste Comte, founder if sociology believed that society is a natural science (positivism). Emile Durkheim studied the interaction between religious beliefs/rituals and the nature of the tribe. Karl Max says religion acts as a drug that hinders the true nature of society (i.e. oppression, escapism). And Weber studied the interaction between religion and capitalism (developed typology). Most sociologists use historical data, observations, surveys, records, and statistics to study religion.

In contrast, psychological approaches focus on a problem or situation in relation to the human mind (unconscious, psyche). Psychologists mostly focus on the individual or small group. Carl Jung explained how the mind is affected by an archetype. He believes God, angels, demons are archetypes. Sigmund Freud believed an individual act of will is controlled by the unconscious. He also thinks religion is a fantasy and that God represents a stern father figure. William James believed that religion can be experienced personally regardless of the culture. In comparison, psychology depends on sociology for understanding human behavior. Social psychology is the combination of psychology and sociology. Humanistic psychology is a combination of psychoanalysis and behaviorism. Most psychologists (or social-psychologists) use experiments, observations and correlations to study religion.

A definition that best describes the sociological approach is functionalism because functionalists remind us that religion gives structure to a society. Sociologists, (like Bryan Wilson), who uses the functionalist approach in religion states “The manifest function of religion is to offer salvation to men and women…religious rituals and behavior are primarily focused on the provision of the means of salvation including forms of worship, prayer or meditation which allow the believer to commune with God or gods…”(Northcott, 202). Other functionalists argue religion as a source of ideas and practices that surpasses the social world and as a social product. Without religion Nazism, Americanism, the Hindu caste system, etc. wouldn’t exist.