Religion and the Social Sciences
Basic and Applied Research Perspectives
Edited by Jeff Levin
Foreword by Rodney Stark
With Julie J. Exline, PhD; Linda K. George, PhD; Anthony J. Gill, PhD; Barry G. Hankins, PhD; William H. Jeynes, PhD; Byron R. Johnson; Annette Mahoney, PhD; Charles M. North, PhD; and Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD
In recent years, researchers across the social sciences have made important contributions to the study of religion. Thanks to their inquiry, we have greatly improved our understanding of how religion influences the vital dimensions of our lives, communities, and institutions.
To give this research the attention it deserves, editor Jeff Levin assembled a panel of preeminent social scientists and gave them a single directive: write the ultimate statement on religion from within their respective social science discipline or field. The result is this state-of-the-science compendium—the first volume of its kind devoted to the study of religion across the social sciences.
Comprising ten essays, the book explores the development of religion as it is studied across nine basic and applied areas of social science, including:
- Psychology — Kenneth I. Pargament & Julie J. Exline
- Political Science — Anthony Gill
- Economics — Charles M. North
- History — Barry Hankins
- Family Studies — Annette Mahoney
- Criminology — Byron R. Johnson
- Gerontology — Linda K. George
- Education — William H. Jeynes
- Epidemiology — Jeff Levin
Each essay features:
- An introduction to the history of the discipline’s religious research, including key scholars and landmark publications
- A comprehensive overview of major research findings and theories
- A detailed research agenda for future scholarship
- An annotated bibliography of foundational works
Broad in scope and essential in focus, Religion and the Social Sciences is an important contribution to the field. It serves as an indispensable resource for both new and established scholars seeking a comprehensive treatment of religion’s place within the social sciences.