Guide to Reference Resources

This guide is designed to support seminary students in exploring the interdisciplinary field of Religion and Society, with particular attention to Christian practices as they are shaped and lived within both church and broader social contexts. Drawing on key insights from the social sciences, it introduces theoretical and methodological tools that help students engage religion not only as a system of belief but also as a dynamic social and cultural reality.

Goals of the Guide:

• To equip seminary students with tools for integrating theories and methods from the social sciences into their study of religion as part of their academic formation.
• To support students interested in analyzing the contexts, actors, and practices within their own faith communities by providing access to research tools from fields such as congregational studies and the study of religious movements.
• To offer bibliographic resources that explore the intersections between theology and the social sciences, particularly in light of developments such as the "anthropological turn" and increased attention to lived theologies.
•  To provide researchers with information about key publications and journals in the field of Religion and Society.

Sociology of religion is a subfield of sociology that examines the ways in which religion influences and is influenced by social life. It explores how religious beliefs, practices, and institutions shape individual behavior and collective identities, as well as how they intersect with broader social structures such as family, politics, education, and economics. This field also studies patterns of religious affiliation, the role of religion in public life, and how religion adapts and responds to cultural and societal change. 

The anthropology of religion is a subfield of anthropology that studies how human beings understand, practice, and experience religion across different cultures and societies. The anthropology of religion has often centered on those sociocultural elements that are frequently identified as religious: myths, rituals, magic, beliefs about gods and divine beings, taboos, and symbols. 

Qualitative research offers valuable tools for examining how religion operates within social and institutional contexts, particularly in churches and other faith-based communities. This approach enables researchers to explore religious practices, leadership, community dynamics, and meaning-making through in-depth, contextual analysis. Common methods include ethnography, interviews, focus groups, and congregational studies—each allowing for detailed investigation of how religious groups organize, interact, and respond to broader societal trends. The library provides access to a variety of case studies and research materials that highlight religion’s role in social change, ethnic and cultural identity, evolving forms of church life, and its influence on family and gender roles, among others. 

New Religious Movements (NRMs) are religious, spiritual, or philosophical groups that have emerged relatively recently in comparison to established world religions. These movements often arise in response to social, cultural, or spiritual needs that are not fully addressed by mainstream religious traditions. NRMs can vary widely in beliefs, practices, organization, and size, ranging from small, localized groups to international movements. Scholars study NRMs to understand how new forms of religion develop, how they attract followers, and how they interact with society—sometimes gaining acceptance, and other times facing controversy or opposition.

This section explores the evolving focus in religious studies from observing how people practice religion in everyday life (lived religion) to understanding how those practices express, shape, and even generate theological meaning (lived theologies). Lived religion emphasizes the ways individuals and communities embody faith through daily routines, rituals, relationships, and material culture—often beyond formal doctrines or institutional settings. Building on this, lived theologies examine how theological ideas are not only taught or written but also enacted, interpreted, and developed through lived experiences. This shift acknowledges that theology is not just produced by scholars or clergy but is also formed "from below," through the real-life spiritual insights and struggles of ordinary believers.

Religion and popular culture are deeply intertwined. This section explores how religious themes, symbols, and narratives are represented, reimagined, or challenged across various forms of popular media, including film, television, music, social media, fashion, and digital culture.  From biblical epics and gospel music to Christian memes, superhero stories with messianic overtones, and faith-based influencers, popular culture both reflects and reshapes public understandings of religion. Christianity frequently appears in pop culture in ways that affirm, parody, commercialize, or critique religious ideas. Resources in this section include studies on religious imagery in media, Christian subcultures within music and gaming, televangelism, faith branding, and the role of religion in shaping or responding to cultural trends.

Academic journals are essential resources for exploring current research, debates, and case studies at the intersection of religion and society. Many of these journals are accessible through the library’s academic databases and cover interdisciplinary approaches—combining religious studies, sociology, anthropology, politics, gender studies, and media studies. These journals also offer excellent opportunities for students and early-career researchers to stay informed on scholarly trends and consider venues for future publication.