Abstract
In recent years, attempts to study the function of religion have been centered in analyses of the social relations of man in the religious sphere. Such studies have emphasized the normative aspect or religion as an important integrating factor in the society. This view has a wide spread theological support as well as strong theoretical foundation in Durkheim's emphasis of the integrating function of religion. The attempt to more firmly establish this position has resulted in considerable studies concerned with church membership, church and parish relations, and the effect of religion on other spheres of social living. As methods or quantitative research have developed, the area of religion has been looked upon as a useful field for the employment of such methods.