Sociology 310
Sociology of Religion
Spring 2003
Dr. Scott Schaffer

First Paper Assignment: Social Theory on Religion

Due Date: Fri Feb 28/2003, at the start of class. No late papers will accepted without a compelling excuse and supporting evidence.

General Rules: This paper is to be a minimum of five (5) full and complete pages; there is no maximum length for the paper, so you should write until your paper is fully developed. Papers that are shorter than 6 pages will lose one-third letter grade per page it is short. Your paper must be typewritten, double-spaced, in 10- or 12-point font, with 1.25in left and right margins and 1in top and bottom margins, on 8 1/2" by 11" paper. Your paper must have a cover page, on which a creative title ("First Paper Assignment" is simply not creative enough), your name, and any other pertinent information should appear; your name should not appear anywhere else in the paper. Your paper must be spell- and grammar-checked; papers that have copious errors will automatically lose two full letter grades. You should follow all guidelines in the "How to Write a Schaffer Paper" handout. And finally, no direct quotations are permitted in this paper; any materials you use to support your argument must be paraphrased and cited following to guidelines in the paper-writing handout. Anything that has the appearance of plagiarism will be regarded as plagiarism and dealt with according to the policy laid out in the syllabus.

Particulars: Choose one of the following topics for your response. In that response, you must use at least three of the theories of religion in the development of your response. Failure to use at least three will result in a minimum deduction of one full letter grade. No sources other than the original texts of each theory of religion are to be used for this paper; you should rely solely on the texts contained in the course reader. DO NOT use the Hamilton text or any outside sources. Be sure that you meet the essential criteria for a successful paper as outlined by the paper-writing handout – that you have a clearly stated argument that is developed through your analysis and critique of the course materials and your responses to each of the subquestions in each topic. And remember: the last subquestion in the topic is the most important, and you should ensure that all of your comments lead to your argumentative response to that subquestion.

The Topics: Choose one of the following for your response.

1. The theories of religion we’ve dealt with so far in this course conceive of religion as either providing a way of understanding the world, or as providing a way of relating to others in a social community. Using three theories of religion as the basis for your paper, outline each author’s argument about the function that religion serves in our social life. Then, extend each author’s claims by dealing with the question of how this function helps maintain a balance in our social lives. Whose argument most closely matches your own experience of religion, and why? Be sure to discuss briefly your experience of religion and to outline your own understanding of how it plays a part in your experience of society.

2. Each of the social theories of religion has within it a theory of how we relate to society. Using three of these theories as the basis for your response, outline each author’s argument (extending it, if necessary) about the ways in which religion posits a social relation. Then, discuss the merits or problems each author highlights regarding how religion puts us in a social relation. Whose argument most closely matches your own understanding of religion as creating or maintaining a social relation, and why? Be sure to briefly outline your understanding as it is presented in this latter statement.