For most of the twentieth century, Auguste Comte, a controversial but highly influential nineteenth-century figure, and his vast treatises on positive philosophy, politics and religion were disregarded and largely ignored. More recently, however, Comte's life and writings have been reexamined together with the project of social reform to which his intellectual labors were devoted, producing a much more complicated picture of his thought and its significance....

Annotation

Examines the work of key figures and institutions in the classical tradition and the agenda they provide for contemporary sociology. It analyzes theories such as those of Karl Marx and Max Weber, and then covers debates on the family, religion, the city, social stratification and citizenship.

This volume includes a section on spirituality and hope that brings together theoreticists and practitioners who present original research on this important topic. Alongside this section are papers presenting studies on civic participation, suffering with God and spirituality.

A cutting-edge collection of original essays from leading scholars examining the contemporary state of the ghetto in all its forms.

Leading scholars examine the growth of new religious movements or cults in the US and Europe over the last 50 years and state attempts to monitor and control them, debating the political, practical and ethical issues which arise.

Providing an authoritative and comprehensive overview of the classical and the contemporary from accounts to Zola, Irving, this volume is an indispensable guide to the vibrant and expanding field of sociology. Featuring numerous entries, from concise definitions to discursive essays, written by leading international academics, the Dictionary offers a truly global perspective, examining both American and European traditions and approaches. Entries...

The twenty-fourth volume of RSSSR includes a landmark collection of papers on religion, spirituality, and health, as well as papers on other key areas in the study of religion such as spirituality and faith development.

This program with Bill Moyers compares the everyday experiences of two New York City middle school students and contrasts political rhetoric with the reality of American schooling. A profile of the two students and their different schools points out the inequalities of our current system and how disproportionate funding affects the quality of education. The program also features advocates for educational reform, who debate what the Democratic and...