Religion Does Matter (But It’s Only Half the Story)

Abstract
Building on claims that sociology has neglected religion, this manuscript argues that focusing on religion alone is incomplete. If sociologists want a serious account of religion’s role in human life, they must also study mysticism and mystical experience—reframed here as “connection experience”—as an experiential core that scholars from James to Maslow treated as foundational.

Key Points

• Argues sociology should expand beyond institutions to include religious/mystical experience.
• Reframes “mystical experience” as connection experience to reduce conceptual confusion.
• Positions the project as necessary for theoretical completeness and disciplinary integrity.
• Links religion, experience, and social control without collapsing them into one monocausal story.

Submission History

• Dec 16, 2024 - Submitted to Sociological Forum - Desk Rejection Issued with no formal explanation. I raised a formal complaint.
  • anonymized email record
  • formal complaint letter (sent to Associate Peer Review Manager at Wiley)
  • article documenting the epistemic gatekeeping that occurs
  • COPE Guidelines
• May 21, 2026 - Revised and extended version submitted to Sociology

Recommended citation: Sosteric, Mike. (Manuscript). “Religion Does Matter (But It’s Only Half the Story).”
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