Genre
Non-fiction
Setting and Context
The text is set during the Enlightenment era, leading up to the modern day.
Narrator and Point of View
The text is told from the perspective of writers Rodney Stark and Roger Finke, who set out their arguments about religion.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the text is informative and explanatory.
Protagonist and Antagonist
N/A
Major Conflict
The major conflict of this text is the attempt of Stark and Finke to introduce a new way of thinking about the subject of religion.
Climax
Each section of the text has its own climax. For example, the climax in section one is their conclusions about secularization and social sciences.
Foreshadowing
In the introduction of the text, Stark and Fink foreshadow their recurring arguments in the text, including their challenge of "Enlightenment" ways of thinking.
Understatement
Throughout this whole text, Stark and Finke argue that social science understates many important aspects of religion, such as the value of prayer.
Allusions
Stark and Finke refer to many philosophical figures, such as Thomas Hobbes and David Hume.
Imagery
Imagery is used to describe how social science has become the "child" of the Enlightenment era, according to Stark and Finke.
Paradox
Social science claims to be about discovering the scientific truth, however Stark and Finke suggest that when it comes to religion, social science does not follow the normal rules.
Parallelism
Religion and science are paralleled in this text and are presented as being reconcilable.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
"The Church" is used as a metonym in this text.
Personification
N/A
