Social network based approaches in the research on religion in Central-Eastern Europe

Abstract

The network science, based on network theory is a fairly new and innovative field and its approaches are groundbreaking in many aspects. The social scientific applications of the network analysis methods and concepts have been built on the results of network science. Thus, the social network analysis of religious networks is grounded on the methodological principles and assumptions of network analysis, especially social network analysis as it has developed in recent years. In this study the author gives a review of the application of social network theory and social network analysis in the sociology of religion in Central and Eastern Europe. This approach of sociological study of religious faith and religious groups is usually based on empirical research and interpretation of the research results. The sociology of religion has a broader perspective in studying religious life, but the religious social networks usually mirror other characteristics of the studied religious entities and phenomena to make it an interesting subject of research.

Keywords

• social network analysis
• religious social network
• religions research
• congregational social network
• Central and Eastern Europe