Module manager: Dr Aled Thomas
Email: A.J.L.Thomas@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Religion has long been a central concern within sociology, often framed as being in tension with modernity. Classical sociologists such as Marx, Durkheim, and Weber developed influential theories that assumed religion would decline as societies became more rational and modern—a view commonly referred to as the “secularisation thesis.” However, this assumption has become increasingly contested. Far from disappearing, religion continues to play a significant and sometimes highly visible role in public life across the globe, influencing politics, identity, and social change. A major concern of the module is to explore how influential theories of religion are related to broader theories of society, particularly regarding debates about the indispensability of religion to the construction and maintenance of social orders, and counterarguments about the secularisation of modern societies. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The objectives of this module are to introduce a broad range of theoretical and methodological issues central to the sociological study of religion; to assess the significance of recent developments in social theory for the study of modern religion; and to enable you to reflect critically on the interrelationship between religion and society in the context of modernity.
You will explore how foundational thinkers conceptualised religion’s role in social order and modernity, and examine how later theorists have revised or challenged these ideas considering global religious transformations. It will provide an understanding of key debates that include whether religion remains indispensable for social cohesion, the extent and nature of secularisation, and the rise of new forms of religiosity in modern societies. By engaging critically with these debates, you will develop an understanding of how sociological theory and empirical research illuminate the complex relationship between religion and modern social life.
You will be taught by a combination of lectures and seminars. The lectures will introduce you to key thinkers and critical issues in the sociology of religion. The seminars will provide the opportunity to discuss and reflect on core texts and the questions emerging from them, and to apply these to particular examples.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1) Critically evaluate classical and contemporary sociological theories of religion, assessing their implications for understanding religion in modern societies.
2) Analyse and compare competing sociological explanations of religion’s role in modernity, identifying key points of convergence and divergence between major theoretical perspectives.
3) Articulate and defend an independent position on issues relating to the sociology of religion.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4) Communicate complex arguments clearly and persuasively, using appropriate academic conventions. (Academic and work Ready Skill)
5) Undertake independent research to identify, evaluate and synthesise relevant material to support knowledge and analysis of topics (Academic and work Ready Skill)
The content of the module may vary but will cover key thinkers in the sociology of religion (such as Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Peter Berger and Eileen Barker), as well as critical issues and debates which may include secularisation, (post)modernity, (post)secularism, pluralism, globalisation, and new religious movements.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students can submit an essay plan for written feedback OR a section of the essay.
Students should read and reflect on (i) the feedback they received in previous summative assessments, (ii) the PRHS marking criteria and (iii) the specific guidance provided on the summative assessment in this module, and identify for themselves the type of formative feedback that will be most beneficial for them.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Resit by the same task, answering a different question, if previously attempted.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team