Mr. Baltzell’s Neighborhood: The Rise of Word “Mainline” and the Decline of Mainline Denominations

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 12:58 pm By Bradley Wright

By John Schmalzbauer, Missouri State University Since last September, Sojourners has explored the meaning of “evangelical.” Such conversations have supplemented more academic analyses by political scientists and sociologists. After spending so much time on evangelicalism, it’s only fair to ask about American Protestantism’s other major tradition, the Protestant mainline. In the judgment of Martin Marty, the term “mainline was and is used mainly by enemies of the mainline.” Unlike evangelical, it is a relatively recent word. Often used to designate... Read more

Whatever happened to military sociology?

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 12:59 pm By Mark Regnerus

There’s a graduate student I know who has a significant interest in what’s called military sociology. Never having studied it, I can’t comment a great deal on what its boundaries are. I just know that it’s not exactly a thriving sub-discipline within American sociology. That’s a little strange, given that we’ve fought two wars that have spanned the past decade and Iraq and Afghanistan are never out of the news. So far as I can tell, military sociology would be... Read more

Finding God Through Evolution

Last updated on: February 4, 2012 at 8:40 am By Bradley Wright

Did you know that two people independently arrived at the basic assumptions of evolution? Charles Darwin, of course, but also Alfred Russel Wallace. As told in one of my favorite books, The Discoverers by former Librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstein, Darwin started writing about his theory in the 1840s. But… being meticulous, Darwin spent over a decade preparing his work for publication, showing it to few others. During this time, Wallace figured out much the same ideas on his own.... Read more

The Superbowl as an American Holiday

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 1:00 pm By Bradley Wright

By Jeremy Rhodes The most American of holidays is upon us once again. No, I’m not confusing February with July or November (though I could go for a good Honey-Baked Ham right now). I’m talking, of course, about the Super Bowl. This weekend, millions of Americans will gather around their enormous televisions and equally-enormous bowls of queso to watch the New York football Giants take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI (the one time each year when... Read more

The Real Taboo: Forget Sex, Let’s Talk About Money (and How Much We’re not Giving)

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 1:00 pm By Jerry Park

As the 2012 campaigns are under way, we sociologists are paying close attention to the rhetoric and public responses to the rhetoric. Of particular note are the religious overtones in that rhetoric as the most likely Republican candidate (from what I can tell) is a religious minority (Mormon or Latter-Day Saints) and the Democratic candidate is still viewed as Muslim in some quarters (also a minority religious group). Recently Mitt Romney’s charitable donations were under question and as it turns... Read more

A Humorous, Insightful Taxonomy of Sin

Last updated on: February 2, 2012 at 7:17 am By Bradley Wright

We’ve heard of the seven deadly sins, of course, but if we look at all possible pairs of them, we get 21 new possibilities for sin. Jessica Hagy, at her site Indexed, has done just this, and it gives a new, and humorous, take on the nature of sin. Enjoy! Read more

Christian-Muslim Dialogue: My Conversation with Islamic Scholar Mohsen Kadivar

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 1:01 pm By Margarita A. Mooney

Although he is known by many as a political dissident, Islamic scholar Mohsen Kadivar emphasized to me over lunch recently, “I never wanted to get involved in politics. I just wanted to be a scholar of religion.” But when the intelligence service in his home country of Iran killed at least four dissidents accused with apostasy and claimed a fatwa of unknown religious authority to justify the killings, Kadivar objected. In articles he wrote and speeches he delivered at a mosque... Read more

Can Christianity and Sociology Mix? Part 3.

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 1:02 pm By Bradley Wright

By George Yancey Part 3 in a series (Read part 1 and 2) It may not be a surprise that a social scientist can allow his studies to inform his faith. Science is often seen as “truth” while faith is seen as “opinion.” But I do not agree with that viewpoint. I see both science and religion as different, but valid, ways of accumulating knowledge. So if my Christianity can be informed by my sociology then my sociology can be... Read more

What’s the difference between a Pastor and a Priest?

Last updated on: October 24, 2019 at 6:09 pm By Mark Regnerus

Protestant-Catholic similarities and distinctions have been a theme of mine in several blog posts, and that is the case today as well. I have tried not to be too evangelical about such things, but rather enlightening, because the process of shifting from one to the other has been nothing if not educational. Today’s subject: the difference between Protestant ministers and Catholic priests, as best I can discern it. The title above is a bit deceiving, because a Catholic priest can... Read more

Enough of the Inquisition! Christianity and Genocide

Last updated on: February 11, 2012 at 1:05 pm By Bradley Wright

Some time ago, I was having lunch with a good friend. The conversation turned to Christianity, and he asked me what I thought of it. I mumbled though my sandwich some generally affirmative answer, and he responded with utter conviction: “But what about the Inquisition?” In his mind, this Christian-based atrocity (which executed three to thirty thousand people) constituted sure proof against the validity of Christianity. Ugh… This fellow is a good friend, and he’s very bright, but what a... Read more