Johnston B.V. Sin and Sociology: The Loss and Potential Recovery of a Concept (translated from the English by V.V. Sapov). In: Ideas of integralism in the Social Sciences : Discussions of Russian and American researchers : collection of scientific works ...

Abstract

Sociology was born in and has experienced its greatest intellectual growth during times of rapid social change. The questions driving sociologists emerged from the end of feudalism to the institutionalization of modernity. The discipline thrived as an academic effort to uncover and explain the logic and dynamics of these changes. The most widely used models and methods were taken from the natural sciences and became the exemplars for the development of sociology. Empiricism and rationality are still the dominant tools used by sociologists to understand yet a new world. Humans are reduced to categories and numbers, and treated as items of data rather than Divinely created beings existing in a unique space between angels and ancestral apes. While current conditions may indicate to some a need for Divine connection and inspiration, others limit their faith to rationality, science, and politics. This is particularly true for sociologists who are faithful to a value free, empirically driven science of humanity and society. For them God and sin are value laden and problematic ideas having little or no relationship to what they do or how they understand the world.

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Content (in russ)