How does sociology study religion?

According to Emile Durkheim, “Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, creating into a simple moral community all those who adhere to those beliefs and practices.”

• Sociologists study religion as the belief in spiritual beings.
• Religion is a mode of action as well as a system of beliefs and a sociological phenomena as well as personal experience.
• Religion rests upon beliefs in supernatural which embraces animism.
• From sociological perspective religion performs many functions for the society. It is a form of social control.
• Religion exists in all known societies although religious beliefs and practices vary from culture to culture.
• Religion is only a personal phenomena, but also has a public aspect which has an important influence upon the social institution.
• Religion is the collection of customs and rituals. Because of religion people respect the customs and norms which maintains the social network.
• Religion encourages people to develop a complex, balanced, integrated, healthy and happy personality and get involved in social welfare activities. It helps people in maintaining internal force.

Sociologists study the public form of religion because it is quite important from social perspective which takes care of society and social institution.