What Is Sociology? Book Review Example

The article chosen for this review was a recent one which appeared in the online edition of the New York Times. To summarize, this article involved the Riverside Church, a prominent liberal Protestant church based in Manhattan which had recently chosen the first female pastor in its 85-year-old history.  This was made more interesting when set against the backdrop of the church’s recent, somewhat tumultuous history: the church’s two preceding minsters were both African American men, the last of whom left in 2009 after a tenure of just one year over controversy involving his leadership style and $450,000 dollar income.  The new minister, whose name is Dr. Amy K. Butler, debuted in the pulpit on Pentecost Sunday this past week and remarked in her sermon that “The hurting world needs the hope that you can give it”  (Otterman 1).  Church members say that she was chosen for her church-building ability and the ease with which she can address young people on contemporary issues.

I chose this article because, whether someone is religious or not, there is no denying the important (and sometimes unseen) role which religion plays in the life of society.  Since sociology is defined as “the study of human relationships and institutions” (Aldrich 1), then understanding the relationship which exists between the individual or society and its religion(s) is of paramount importance to understanding the society itself.  Religion is so important to this field that there is a separate study of the Sociology of Religion which “seeks to understand religion in its varied manifestations as a societal institution, as a culture practice, and as a pattern of beliefs and activities that are shaped society” (American Sociological Association 1).  What is particularly of interest in the Riverside Church Article is that the issues surrounding the story are good illustration of the intersections of religion with issues of gender, race and economics.  All of these complexities make for interesting sociological study.

References

Alderich, H. “What is Sociology?”  Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill.  2013.  Retrieved from www.sociology.unc.edu/undergraduate-programs/Sociologymajor/what-is-sociology

Otterman, S.  “After Period of Turmoil, Riverside Church Elects New Leader”. New York Times Online.  2014. Retrieved from www.newyorktimesonline.com/2014/06/09/Nyregion/Riverside-selects-amy-butler-as-new-senior-minister.html

“The Sociology of Religion”.  American Sociological Association. 2013. Retrieved from www.asanet.org/section34/soc_of_rel.html