Status of Methodological Variety in Sociology of Religion Emphasizing Comparative-Historical Analysis

Studying various aspects of religion necessitate various approaches. These are the insider approach to studying the cognitive (subjective) aspect, and outsider approach to studying the external (objective) aspect of religion. The focus of attention, the purpose of recognition, and thus the methods of these two approaches are different. In this view, the two approaches are not at the same level. Then, they do not contradict each other, but rather are complementary and assist each other in extensive study of religion. One of the disciplines equipped with an outsider approach to the study of religion is sociology of religion which has a variety of methods, amongst which is the method of comparative-historical analysis. Scholars especially from early twenty first century started to use this method. In addition to having appropriate techniques for historical description and explanation, this method is methodologically compatible with topics, which have recently become important for religious studies.