ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the main ideas of Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, two senior sociologists who laid the foundations of the sociology of religion. Sociologists and anthropologists were historically interested in the impact of religion on societal scaffolding. Emile Durkheim and Max Weber were pioneers in the study of religion and its sociological roots, and they emphasized the future of religion in modern society. Pilgrimage studies has a very long history. People who may be subject to countless deprivations have a need to believe in a supreme being but also understand the deeper meaning of life. Religious practices, accompanied by the hierarchies they create, are far from being static but evolve over time. The pilgrimage to Lujan takes place twice a year, so the timeframe for gathering first-hand data is limited. The people in this category are not motivated by religion or faith; rather, they seek new and interesting experiences.
