One of the major tasks of sociology understands the dynamics of group life. Another is making sense of the interaction between the group and individuals.
Some key assumptions in sociology regarding human nature are that we are biological organisms, we can symbolize, and that “People become human only in groups…” Furthermore, we argue that human action is directed toward problem solving. Finally, we accept the notion that all social phenomena are interrelated.
The sociological analysis of religion requires us to rely on the scientific method. We go about this process by obtaining empirical data and using that data to verify theories. We must be able to document and replicate findings.
When reflecting on the idea of objectivity, consider this quote from J. Milton Yinger, “How is it possible to see a stained-glass window from the outside?” or another quote from an unknown source, “A fish does not see the water it swims in.” Is it possible to be objective? I think the best we can do is to recognize our biases and attempt to control for them in our research.