Stark and Finke or Durkheim on Conversion and (Re-)Affiliation: An Outline of a Structural Functionalist Rebuttal to Stark and Finke

Abstract

English

In this article, a theory based on a structural functionalist scientific research programme (Lakatos) is constructed. Conversion and re-affiliation are seen as transgressions of universal societal norms. It appears that a structural functionalist theory on conversion and (re-)affiliation is at least as good as the recent one put forward by Stark and Finke, which was based on economic principles. The propositions that are derived from the theory and are developed here are supported empirically. Then, the theory is extended to incorporate political spheres, as well as other social domains. Brief overviews of both Stark and Bainbridge's and Stark and Finke's theories on religion precede the elaboration of the proposed theory.

French

Dans cet article, une théorie fondée sur un programme de recherche scienti- fique structuro-fonctionaliste (Lakatos) est construite. La conversion et la (ré-)affiliation sont considérées comme des transgressions de normes sociétales universelles. Il apparait qu'une théorie structuro-fonctionaliste sur la conversion et la (ré-)affiliation est au moins aussi bonne qu'une théorie plus récente proposée par Stark et Finke, basée sur des principes économiques. Les propositions dérivant de la théorie et qui sont développées ici sont soutenues empiriquement. La théorie est ensuite élargie, de manière à intégrer la sphère politique, aussi bien que d'autres domaines sociaux. Un bref panorama des théories sur la religion de Stark et Bainbridge, et de Stark et Finke précède l'élaboration de la théorie proposée.

Keywords

defection Durkheim Finke intermediate groups market theory conversion norms re-affiliation Stark structural functionalism

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