Customer Reviews

Choice and Religion: A Critique of Rational Choice Theory

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This book is excellent. Intellectually insightful and extremely well-written. It is a huge breath of fresh air in the midst of all the BS that is fogging up current American sociology of religion. This book lays out a blistering, air-tight attack on "rational choice" theories of religion and shows how flawed such an approach truly is. How can you even talk about "cost/benefit" concerning religion when no two people can even agree on what a "cost" is or what a "benefit" is? For one person, a three hour Bible study session every Wednesday is a burdern ("cost"), but to another person, is is a joy/pleasure. To reduce religious involvement to base economic models is simply unsociological and teaches us very little. Afer all -- what is "rational" anyway? Bruce explains why rational choice theories of religion are weak -- and then some. His critiques of Stark, Finke, and Iannaccone are brutal -- and right on. Bruce goes on to reveal the extent of secularization in Europe -- his evidence is solid (unlike Stark's). Bruce's analyses of religion -- and its demise in Europe -- are plausible and well-reasoned.
I found this entire book insightful, enjoyable, and perhaps the best sociological analysis of religion to come out in years. Bruce is Brilliant.