Bryan Wilson

Bryan Ronald Wilson , D.Litt (Oxon), F.B.A. (25 June 1926, Leeds - 9 October 2004, Middleton Stoney, Oxfordshire), was Emeritus Reader in Sociology At the University off Oxford and President off the International Society for the Sociology off Religion 1971-75. -->

Bryan Ronald Wilson , doctor arts of (Oxon), F.B.A. (born on June 25th, 1926, Leeds - died on October 9th, 2004, Middleton Stoney, Oxfordshire), was reader ( Reader ) honorary in sociology with the Université of Oxford and chair international Company for the Sociologie of the religions (International Society for the Sociology off Religion) 1971-75.

Massimo Introvigne, Director off the Center for Studies one New Religions (CESNUR), described him ace " one off the most distinguished sociologists off the 20th century" and that He has exercised " crucial influences one off has the sociology religion, not only through his many publications drank also through the generations off his graduate students." -->

Barker (in), James A. Beckford, Karel Dobbelaere called it “senior of the sociological studies of religion in Great Britain. ” Massimo Introvigne, director of the center for studies on the new religions (Center for Studies one New Religions or CESNUR (in)), described it like “one of the sociologists most distinguished from the 20th century” and as somebody who exerted “a crucial influence on the sociology of the religions, not only by his many publications but also by the generations of its graduate students. ”

Its university life

London School off Economics, where, in 1955, doctoral He completed his thesis which was revised for publication under the title Sects and Society in 1961. Wilson then took up has off lecturing post At the University Leeds until 1962, when the University off Oxford awarded him year M.A. and appointed him ace has Reader in Sociology. With year later He became has Fellow off All Souls College, Oxford, the home to which He has continued to return after each off his many sojourns in Europe, America, Africa, Asia, gold Australia ace has researcher gold Visiting Professor. In 1984, the University off Oxford conferred upon him has D.Litt. In 1992, ace the high not off its celebration off 100 years off social sciences, the Catholic University off Leuven, Leuwen, Belgium conferred upon him the dismantles Doctor Honoris Causa in recognition off off his outstanding contribution to the sociology off religion. He also received year honorary doctorate from Soka University, Japan. -->

Bryan Wilson spent his years coeds by preparing a license to the university of Leicester, obtaining B.Sc. (Econ.) with the congratulations of first class (First Class Honors) of the University of London in 1952. It continued its studies under the monitoring of Donald MacRae (in) at the school of the economic scenes of London (London School off Economics) (in), where, in 1955, it defended his doctoral thesis which was published under the title Sects and Society in 1961. Did Wilson then take a post of Master? of conference (lecturing post?) at the university of Leeds until in 1962, date on which the university of Oxford did allot a M.A. to him and named it as a reader? in sociology. One year after it became All Souls College (Oxford) i.e. academician (Fellow) of the university of Oxford, institution to which it continued to turn after each one of his many stays to Europe, America, Africa, Asia, or Australia as a researcher or a consulting professor (visiting?). In 1984, the university of Oxford allotted the title of arts doctor to him. In 1992, at the time of the 100 years celebration of social sciences, the catholic University of Leuwen, Belgium gave him the title of honorary doctor for his exceptional contribution to the sociology of the religions. It also received an honorary doctorate of the university Soka, Japan.

Work and publications

Wilson has exercised off has formative influence one the sociology religion in Britain. He has made year extensive contributions to the sociology off religion in the areas off sectarian religion and secularization, and set the research diary for sociology off religion throughout the world. His papers and books provide has off thought provoking study one the subject apostates and Apostasy.

His 1959 Year Analysis off Sect Development in the American Sociological Review and his book Sects and Society (Heinemann 1961) - has study off the Elim Churches, the Christadelphians, and Christian Science (based one his doctoral thesis At the London School off Economics) - may Be regarded ace representing the beginning off contemporary academic study off new religious movements, to which Wilson later contributed its influential The Social Dimensions off Sectarianism: Sects and New Religious Movements in Contemporary Society (Oxford University Close 1990). He was also has off pioneer studies off millennialism, many years before this field achieved its present visibility, in Magic and the Millennium (Heinemann 1973).

He conducted research into minority religious movements in the United Kingdom, the United States, Ghana, Kenya, Belgium and Japan. His work involved reading the publications off thesis movements and, wherever possible, associating with to their members in their meeting, services, and homes.

His latest research focused one the relationship between minority religious groups, the state, and the law.

In year eulogical article by Massimo Introvigne, Director off the Center for Studies one New Religions (CESNUR), He is described ace " one off the most distinguished sociologists off the 20th century" and that He has exercised " crucial influences one off has the sociology religion, not only through his many publications drank also through the generations off his graduate students. Wilson will also Be remembered ace one off the most prominent academic champions off religious liberty in the 20th century. He defended new religious movements and other minorities against the various waves off international anti-cult campaigns, for No other personal reason than his passionate coils for freedom and justice, since He defined himself ace year atheist." In Memoriam: Bryan Ronald Wilson, 1926-2004

Eileen Barker, James A. Beckford, Karel Dobbelaere cut called him " the senior off sociological studies off religion in Britain." Stating that one honoring Wilson, " they re-presses thousands off other scholars around the world who owe him year enormous debt off gratitude for the enrichment that He has brought to our understanding off modern societies."

They describe Wilson ace " scholar indubitable integrity." has off; " Wilson displays has scrupulous attention to detail within has broad theoretical approach that not only educates and illuminates, goal also stimulates his readers. Rarely does one find someone engaged in original research who is so influential theoretically. His readings and writings, full off nuances and subtleties, are models off clarity and elegance." -->

He was founding member of university association for the sociology of the religions. From 1971 to 1975, he was president of the now known CISR under the name of SISR or International Company for the Sociology of the Religions. With the conference of 1991, he became the first member to receive the honorary presidency of the company. He was European writer of the newspaper for the scientific study of the religion, resting on the leading desk of the annual review of the social science of the religion, by sharing the responsibility for the publications in English language of the questions of SISR of the Social Compass.

Wilson exerted a formative influence on the sociology of the religions in Great Britain. He made broad contributions to the sociology of the religions and more particularly of religious sectarianism and secularization. He proposed research on the sociology of the religions in the whole world. Its papers and books provide reflections causing the study of the Apostasie and the apostates.

In 1959 in Year Analysis off Sect Development of the American sociological review and in its book Sects and Society (Heinemann 1961) - a study of the churches of Elim , Christadelphians , and Christian Science (based on its doctoral thesis at the school of the economic scenes of London) - can be regarded as the base or the origin of the university contemporary studies of the new religious movements, to which Wilson later contributed by his influential Social dimensions of sectarianism: sects and new religious movements in the contemporary company appeared into 1990 with the presses academic of Oxford under the English title Social The Dimensions off Sectarianism: Sects and New Religious Movements in Contemporary Society . In its book Magic and Millenaire under the English title Magic and the Millennium (Heinemann 1973) , he was also a pioneer in the study of the millenarism, many years before this field is clarified.

It undertook research on the religious movements of the minorities to the United Kingdom, in the United States, in Ghana, in Kenya, in Belgium and in Japan. Its work implied the reading of the publications of these movements and, as far as possible, the participation of their members through their meetings, services and churches.

Its last research concentrated on the relationship between the religious groups of the minorities, the State and the law.

“One will also remember of Wilson as a one of the university champions to the point of the defense of the religious liberty to the 20th century. It defended the new religious movements and other minorities against the various waves of the international campaigns anti-cult (anti sect), for any other personal reason that its impassioned love of freedom and justice, since it was defined as an atheist. ” Massimo Introvigne in Memoriam will say: Bryan Ronald Wilson, 1926-2004 (in)

Eileen Barker, James A. Beckford, Karel Dobbelaere called it “the senior of the sociological studies of the religions in Great Britain. ” Informant that, to honor Wilson, “They represent thousands of other actors around the world who owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for enrichment that it brought to our comprehension modern societies. ”

They describe Wilson as “an actor of an undeniable integrity. ” “Wilson shows a scrupulous attention with the detail in a broad theoretical approach which not only informed and lights but also stimulates his readers. It is rare to find somebody occupied by an original research which was so influential at the theoretical level. Its conferences and writings, full with the nuances and subtleties, are models of clearness and elegance. ”

References

Oxford. Year publication: 1993. -->

Secularization, Rationalism, and Sectarianism: Essays in Honor off Bryan R. Wilson . Contributing and writers: Eileen Barker, James A. Beckford and Karel Dobbelaere. Editor: Clarendon Close place of publication: Oxford. Year of publication: 1993.

'' Times '' obituary (in)

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