The Economic Approach to the Study of Religion

Stark, Rodney; Zandi, Mohsen

The Economic Approach to the Study of Religion

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Rodney Stark

Mohsen Zandi

PhD Student in Teaching Islamic Sciences

Abstract

One of the newest approaches in the study of religion is the economic approach, which has not yet been widely practiced in our academic circles. In this paper, using an interdisciplinary method and the principles of psychology and sociology of religion, Rodney Stark, an English economist, introduces this approach as lucidly as possible. It goes without saying that, like any other discipline, the economic approach is based on many explicit or implicit assumptions. The most explicit assumption of this article is the principle of rational choice, which has enjoyed a high status in some of the trends in economics, political science, sociology, cognitive psychology, etc; according to this principle, man's behavior is purposeful and deliberated. The social events are the totality of the actions of a great many individuals, who act on the basis of rational calculation or instrumental reason. On the other hand, according to the rival theory, human behavior is mainly based on habit rather than rational arguments; as a result, man's behavior is shaped by training and social structures.

Keywords

Pluralism in supply

the principle of rational choice

supply and demand

Competition

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