Scholarly Journals | The Sociology of Religion

This is a list of scholarly journals with content related to the Sociology of Religion. In this list are the traditional journals you’d associate with the Sociology of Religion but also some additional journals with content that is related, at least in my mind, to the new Sociology of Religion that we (and by “we” I mean students and practitioners) need to develop. Students looking for a paper topic can browse the table of contents of these journals for ideas. Open access journals are noted with an asterix, and sorted to the top.

*International Journal of Transpersonal Studies

A journal with a “transpersonal” focus, meaning space is given for a consideration of the possibility that humans are more than just the physical bodies they inhabit. Definitely interesting to anybody not confined by the “naive materialism” of modern science.

*Approaching Religion

Approaching Religion is a multi-disciplinary open access journal covering a wide range of topics. Definitely worth taking a closer look at.

Sociology of Religion

The official journal of the Association for the Sociology of Religion. Previously Sociological Analysis. Fascinating articles from a wide angle view.

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

A multidisciplinary journal on the study of religion. Has a “scientific” focus, meaning they try to pay attention to truth and facts as much as they possibly can.

Journal of Contemporary Religion

A journal that looks at contemporary religion. Has a less explicit political focus than some of the others, but provides a wide range of topical content.

Social Compass

Social Compass is an international journal (multilingual, multidisciplinary) journal that reflects “the wide variety of research being carried out by sociologists of religion in all countries.” Worth a look.

Critical Research on Religion

Founded in 2013 with the aim of providing space for critical theorists to discuss religion. Definitely worth having a closer look at.

Method and Theory in the Study of Religion

“Method & Theory in the Study of Religion publishes articles, notes, book reviews and letters which explicitly address the problems of methodology and theory in the academic study of religion.”

Journal of Consciousness Studies

Don’t let the title fool you, this journal looks at consciousness, but from a materialist perspective. The basic assumption is that consciousness must derive from some aspect of the physical universe.

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

It is what it says, a journal exploring psychoactive drugs. It is included here because psychoactive substances (what I like to call entheogens) have been implicated in religious experience for thousands of years.

Zygon – Journal of Religion and Science

I honestly can’t figure this one out. It seems to represent a basic Christian theology to the world and it seems to do so in an uncritical manner, reflecting spiritual ideology and opportunism within the pages of its “scholarly” scaffolding. Be careful with this one.