Abstract :
The concept of religious behaviour in terms of sociology of religion is to refer to a special kind of social behaviour. It is either a direct religious behaviour (religious ceremonies, etc.) or is shaped by religious forms and contents. In sociology, there are fundamental differences between the positivist and the interpretative conception of sociology. While the first one produces the macro theories emphasizing structures and systems which determine the actions of individuals, the second one produces theories building up the structures and systems and emphasizing a person as the subject. The dualism of action-structure has important consequences in terms of religious behaviour theories. The structural theories tend to see religion as a result of large scale social changes and emphasize the important of religion to the needs of a society. In the theories emphasizing a person as the subject the target is to understand action of the actor by interpreting. According to these theories, religion is not about a need of being constant of the society, but a need of an individual`s search for meaning; it is neither the linear historical development, nor the social conscience and nor the tendency for balance of system, but it is the product of certain individuals who lived in a particular historical context. These theories are to pay attention to emphasize the reasons concerning religious actions of individuals. It is possible to examine the theories such as why individuals become religious, why they demonstrate certain religious behaviour, and why they need religion under the four titles. These are the theories of deprivation, socializing, rational choice and search for meaning.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Action , Structure , Religious Behaviour , İnterpretative Sociology , Positivist Sociology
