New IGNOU ESO-05/15 Help Book Society and Religion in English – BTS Sociology Latest Edition Guide and Study Material.

Block 1 – The Study of Religion
Sociology and the Study of Religion
Evolutionary Theories of Religion
Functionalist Theories of Religion
The Study of Religious Beliefs
The Study of Religious Symbols

Block 2 – Perspectives on Religion
Comparative Sociological Theories of Ritual
Ritual-I: A Case Study from Africa
Ritual-II: A Case Study from South-East Asia
Civil Religion
Religion and the Economic Order
Religion and Politics/State

Block 3 – Religion and Related Aspects
Religious Organisations: Sects, Cults and Denominations
Religious Specialists: Shamans, Priests and Prophets
Religion: Social Stability and Change
Fundamentalism: Some Case Studies
Secularism and Secularisation

Block 4 – Religious Pluralism-I
Religious Pluralism in India: As Fact and Value
Tribal Religion: Two Case Studies

Block 5 – Religious Pluralism-II
Hinduism
Jainism and Buddhism
Christianity
Islam
Sikhism

Block 6 – Religious Movements: Medieval and Modern
Medieval Religious Movements I: Bhakti and Sufism
Medieval Religious Movements I: Veerashaivism
Modern Religious Movements II: Arya Samaj
Modern Religious Movements II: Ramakrishna Mission

Block 7 – Social Significance of Religion
Life Cycle Rituals-I: Birth and Marriage
Life Cycle Rituals-II: Death
Social Significance of Pilgrimages
Social Significance of Religious Festivals
Fundamentalism, Communalism and Secularism