Preface to the English edition
The sociological definition of religion
The historical-philosophical background
Auguste Comte (1798-1857): the universal religion
Tocqueville (1805-1859 ): religion and democracy
Bergson (1859-1941) : religion and "lan vital"
The contribution of anthropology
Durkheim's (1858-1917) religious forms
Weber's (1864-1920) universal religions
Simmel (1858-1918): religiosity and religion
Freud (1856-1939) : the psychic dimension of religion
William James (1842-1910): psychosocial perspective
The macrosociological approach
The historical-cultural dynamics
The Frankfurt School and religion
The new European perspectives
The socioanthropological perspectives
Robert Bellah (1927-): civil religion
Niklas Luhmann (1927-1998): religion as function
The new religious movements
