Functionalism or Fallacy: Re-locating Hans Mol’s Identity Theory

Powell, Adam J.

doi:10.13136/isr.v7i1.149

Functionalism or Fallacy: Re-locating Hans Mol’s Identity Theory

Powell, Adam J.

Authors

Dr Adam Powell adam.j.powell@durham.ac.uk
Lecturer

Abstract

In this paper, the identity theory of religion outline by sociologist Hans Mol in the 1970s is introduced and located among the various competing theories of the mid-20th century. Using such comparisons, particularly with enigmatic sociological figures, it is argued that the original consensus that Mol represented yet another neo-functionalist theory of religion is fallacious. Instead, it is suggested that his theoretical framework, whilst ambitious and broad, is something other than functionalism and avoids easy categorisation when viewed from a 21st-century perspective on the history of ideas.

Citation

Powell, A. J. (2017). Functionalism or Fallacy: Re-locating Hans Mol’s Identity Theory. Italian Sociological Review, 7(1), 63-85. https://doi.org/10.13136/isr.v7i1.149

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Nov 1, 2016
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2017
Deposit Date	May 2, 2017
Publicly Available Date	May 3, 2017
Journal	Italian Sociological Review
Publisher	University of Verona
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	7
Issue	1
Pages	63-85
DOI	https://doi.org/10.13136/isr.v7i1.149