Reflections on Sociology and Theology

Reflections on Sociology and Theology is a collection of essays by a distinguished sociologist exploring the relationship between sociology and religious issues. After laying out the main themes to be explored, David Martin divides the essays into three sections: Part I: Theoretical Considerations have a strong methodological content, and examine the nature of sociology and theology, and their inter-relationship. Part II: Practical Issues discusses sociological and practical issues of interest to theologians, such as peace studies, Christian Unity, and the nature of religious comment on politics. Part III: Addresses to Clergy and to Teachers of Sociology divides into two parts: the first address is directed against the notion of collective guilt as propagated by both religious and secular sources. The second, aimed at the clergy, sets out the empirical situation of western Christianity and suggests a socio-theological response. David Martin presents an elegant, compelling argument that religion and sociology can - and should - co-exist.