Recent developments and current controversies in the sociology of religion

The sociology of religion is experiencing a period of substantial organizat ional and intellectual growth. Recent theoretical and empirical papers on t he sociology of religion appearing in top journals in sociology have genera ted both interest and controversy. We begin with a selective overview of re search on religious beliefs and commitments. Second, we investigate the inf luence of religion on politics, the family, health and well-being, and on f ree space and social capital. Finally, we review rational choice theories i n the sociology of religion and the controversies surrounding applications of these perspectives.