The Sacred Project of American Sociology

Christian Smith examines American sociology as an academic discipline and argues it operates as a sacred project with implicit moral and political commitments. His analysis draws on decades of experience within sociology departments and extensive research into the field's publications, methods, and institutional practices. The book presents evidence from academic journals, conference proceedings, and university departments to demonstrate sociology's underlying ideological framework. Smith traces how this framework influences everything from research topics and methodologies to hiring decisions and classroom instruction. The work addresses the relationship between sociology's stated scientific objectives and its actual social reform ambitions. It questions whether the field can maintain scientific credibility while pursuing transformative political goals. The book offers insights into how academic disciplines can become vehicles for moral and political projects while maintaining the outward appearance of objective inquiry. Smith's analysis speaks to broader questions about the role of values and advocacy in social science.

Readers describe this book as a critique of academic sociology's unacknowledged moral and political commitments. Many reviewers found Smith's analysis of sociology's underlying progressive agenda to be accurate and well-documented. Readers appreciated: - Clear identification of biases in sociology - Detailed examples from academic literature - Balanced tone despite controversial topic - Focus on evidence rather than polemics Common criticisms: - Too narrow focus on progressive bias while ignoring conservative bias - Some repetitive sections - Limited solutions offered - Overstates case in later chapters Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) One sociology professor noted: "Smith articulates what many of us have observed but struggled to name." A critical review on Goodreads stated: "Makes valid points about ideological conformity but fails to acknowledge similar issues across the political spectrum."

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🔍 Author Christian Smith served as the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame and was the founding director of Notre Dame's Center for the Study of Religion and Society. 📚 The book argues that American sociology is not merely a scientific discipline but operates as a "sacred project" committed to transforming the world according to progressive ideals. ⚡ Smith's controversial thesis suggests that many sociologists are unaware of their field's underlying moral and ideological commitments, believing instead that they are engaging in purely objective research. 🎓 The work builds on Smith's extensive experience in academia, including his role as editor of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion and president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. 🌟 Despite being critical of sociology's current state, Smith remains within the discipline and advocates for greater self-awareness and methodological pluralism rather than abandoning the field altogether.