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Christians and sociology: Towards a Christian perspective
Book by Lyon, David
93 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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September 6, 2024
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS REACT TO SOCIOLOGY? IS THERE A "CHRISTIAN SOCIOLOGY”?
At the time this book was published in 1975, David Lyon was a lecturer at Bingley College of Education in England. He now directs the Surveillance Studies Centre, is a Professor of Sociology, holds a Queen's Research Chair and is cross-appointed as a Professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He has written many other books, such as 'Surveillance Studies: An Overview,' ;Electronic Eye: The Rise of Surveillance Society,' 'Postmodernity,' etc.
He wrote in the Preface, "[Many] Christians ... are quite unprepared for the subtle and persistent tendency of sociology to erode faith and raise doubts. Very few have any idea of how a Christian might approach sociology. Some... manage to hold on to their 'faith,' but not always in a healthy way. They may just create separate compartments in their lives for faith and study, thus sacrificing their integrity. Others... discard [Christianity], feeling that sociological enlightenment and Christian faith are incompatible... This book is intended to help anyone who... is facing the challenge of sociology. It aims to show how the subject itself is based on certain assumptions, how Christians can learn from its challenges and deal creatively with them, and how, in time, they might contribute usefully as sociologists." (Pg. 7-8)
He points out, "Although, as Christians, we must often disagree with sociologists over basic assumptions, this does not mean that all sociological research is therefore invalid. Much excellent work in sociology has been done by non-Christians, and has achieved many God-pleasing results in society... there is a new chance today for Christians to make their contribution from a distinctive biblical position." (Pg. 29-31)
He asks, "WHAT do we believe to be true, and WHY do we believe that certain things are true? It is clearly not that Christian ideas are socially acceptable---because the majority do not believe them! ... It is really impossible to account fully in sociological terms for a change in belief, especially in a case such as that of Paul the apostle." (Pg. 42)
He adds, "As Christians, we believe that there is knowledge which is undetermined by any social context, since it has been given, as it were, from outside... The self-disclosure of God yields principles and criteria for evaluating all ideas which originate from a purely human, social source." (Pg. 47-48)
He observes, "as Christians we will find that our sociology, all too often, is an examination of the effects of sin on society." (Pg. 65) He argues, "Man IS a slave to society, NOT because he is malleable, because he is a social pawn, but because he us fundamentally a slave to sin, and therefore to a sinful society." (Pg. 68)
He concludes, "by 'Christian sociology' we do not mean a sociology that is utterly oblivious to all 'non-Christian' sociology, but rather one which develops its distinctive sociological presuppositions, and uses these to criticize or modify other sociologies... To talk merely of Christians IN sociology... denies... that our Christian presuppositions have any relevance to our lives as sociologists. Thus we would defend the qualified use of the term 'Christian sociology.'" (Pg. 87-88)
This is an interesting examination and discussion of a topic that is seldom addressed by evangelical Christians, and [despite the fact that this book is nearly fifty years old] will be of considerable interest to any Christians concerned with sociology and its implications.
At the time this book was published in 1975, David Lyon was a lecturer at Bingley College of Education in England. He now directs the Surveillance Studies Centre, is a Professor of Sociology, holds a Queen's Research Chair and is cross-appointed as a Professor in the Faculty of Law at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He has written many other books, such as 'Surveillance Studies: An Overview,' ;Electronic Eye: The Rise of Surveillance Society,' 'Postmodernity,' etc.
He wrote in the Preface, "[Many] Christians ... are quite unprepared for the subtle and persistent tendency of sociology to erode faith and raise doubts. Very few have any idea of how a Christian might approach sociology. Some... manage to hold on to their 'faith,' but not always in a healthy way. They may just create separate compartments in their lives for faith and study, thus sacrificing their integrity. Others... discard [Christianity], feeling that sociological enlightenment and Christian faith are incompatible... This book is intended to help anyone who... is facing the challenge of sociology. It aims to show how the subject itself is based on certain assumptions, how Christians can learn from its challenges and deal creatively with them, and how, in time, they might contribute usefully as sociologists." (Pg. 7-8)
He points out, "Although, as Christians, we must often disagree with sociologists over basic assumptions, this does not mean that all sociological research is therefore invalid. Much excellent work in sociology has been done by non-Christians, and has achieved many God-pleasing results in society... there is a new chance today for Christians to make their contribution from a distinctive biblical position." (Pg. 29-31)
He asks, "WHAT do we believe to be true, and WHY do we believe that certain things are true? It is clearly not that Christian ideas are socially acceptable---because the majority do not believe them! ... It is really impossible to account fully in sociological terms for a change in belief, especially in a case such as that of Paul the apostle." (Pg. 42)
He adds, "As Christians, we believe that there is knowledge which is undetermined by any social context, since it has been given, as it were, from outside... The self-disclosure of God yields principles and criteria for evaluating all ideas which originate from a purely human, social source." (Pg. 47-48)
He observes, "as Christians we will find that our sociology, all too often, is an examination of the effects of sin on society." (Pg. 65) He argues, "Man IS a slave to society, NOT because he is malleable, because he is a social pawn, but because he us fundamentally a slave to sin, and therefore to a sinful society." (Pg. 68)
He concludes, "by 'Christian sociology' we do not mean a sociology that is utterly oblivious to all 'non-Christian' sociology, but rather one which develops its distinctive sociological presuppositions, and uses these to criticize or modify other sociologies... To talk merely of Christians IN sociology... denies... that our Christian presuppositions have any relevance to our lives as sociologists. Thus we would defend the qualified use of the term 'Christian sociology.'" (Pg. 87-88)
This is an interesting examination and discussion of a topic that is seldom addressed by evangelical Christians, and [despite the fact that this book is nearly fifty years old] will be of considerable interest to any Christians concerned with sociology and its implications.
July 8, 2019
A good (albeit brief) entry level foray into the idea of looking at sociology through the Christian worldview. Basic with not a lot of overwhelming technical terms. Lyon's writing is straightforward and no-frills yet there are good insights along the way. Worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews