“Sociology of Religion: A reader”

1. How do sociologists define religion? What do all their definitions have in common? How do these definitions guide the sociological study of religions – i.e. what sorts of phenomena are observed/considered observable? 2. How does Durkheim define the sacred and the profane? What is remarkable about each realm of existence? Use an example of your devising to illustrate your answer. 3. Offer critique of Durkheim – what criticism can be made about his work and his theory? 4. Explain how Berger theorizes that humans create religion and society, and then how religion and society create humans. 5. Offer an explanation and analysis of Marx’s statement “religion is the opiate of the masses.”