STARK, Rodney (1940-):
SOCIOLOGIST of RELIGION and early proponent of the
SECULARIZATION thesis which he later repudiated. He is best known for his co-authored
article "Hellfire and Delinquency" which found no correlation between
religious BELIEF and delinquent behavior: a position which he now regards as wrong due to
inadequate sampling. One of America's most creative sociologist his many books include the
best selling introductory text Sociology (1985) and The Future of Religion
(1985) which he wrote with William Sims Bainbridge.
