Anthony Blasi – författare

This volume presents views of American sociology from minority groups and important intellectual movements that did not merge into the mainstream. Coinciding with the centenary of the American Sociological Association, it provides little-known background information to the development of the field. A first section highlights tensions between impartial scientific sociology and scientific social reform. A second section uncovers the experiences of female, African American, and Latino pioneers in the field, as well as a sociologist from a religious minority. A third section traces the organizational history of the field, including gendered, racial, regional, and outsider perspectives. A final section focuses on several neglected trajectories. With this volume, American sociology can be seen in its full context.

This is a collection of histories of various aspects of American sociology of religion. The contributions range from descriptions of early dissertations, accounts of changes in theoretical conceptualization, the evolution of studies of particular denominations, to the rise of new areas of inquiry such as globalization, feminism, new religions, and the study of the religious traditions of Latino/a Americans. Taken as a whole, the volume complements rather than duplicates commemorative issues of the relevant journals, which focused on the scholarly organizations in the field. It represents a first effort to develop an organized treatment of the fascinating history of the specialty in the U.S.A.