"A Sociology of World Religions" presents comparative analysis of the world's religions, focusing on the differences and interrelationships between religious elites and lay masses. In each case the volume contextualizes how the relationships between these two religious forms fit within, and are influenced by, the wider socio-political environment. This project offers a comparison of the popular, or folk, forms of religion around the world. Stephen Sharot's introductions to each of the world religions, synthesizing a vast literature on popular religion, make the project ideal for course use.