THE MICRO-SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION

To study the micro-sociology of religion first we clarified the meso and macro approach. The macro approach refers to the historical changes in religions and the patterns it followed to innovate and change; it also refers to the place religion has taken in society and economy during its history. On the other hand, the meso approach is related with the religion it self, the church organization, the demography of religion, the movements and politics.

The micro-sociological approach of religion is to observe as close as possible people’s behavior, what they say, what they do, how and where those actions takes place. The rituals are included in the micro-sociological study of religion which is divided in ceremonial and interaction rituals. The ceremonial are practices towards sacred things, is like the stipulated way people behave, dress and say towards something sacred in the specific religions. And the interaction rituals as the name says refer to social relationships.

Collins in 2004 wrote about the interaction ritual chains composed by 8 links:

1.       bodily assembly of participants.

2.      barriers excluding outsiders.

3.     mutual focus of attention.

4.     Shared emotional mood. “collective effervescence”.

5.      Membership feelings.

6.     Sacred objects or symbolic emblems.

7.      Emotional energy.

8.     Moral feelings of right and wrong.

Besides all rituals are different in all religions, they differ because they produce distinctive emotional experiences and it has distinctive symbolic contents.