The 3 major topics of sociological theories would be Symbolic Interactionism, Functional Analysis and Conflict Theory. Symbolic Interaction as the name suggests deals with symbols. Everything in life identifies with a symbol, and we as human beings relate to individual symbols differently. Functional Analysis, or structural functionalism, deals with a society as a whole. Each area of the whole society needs the other areas to work together for the good of all and maintain the inner peace and prosperity of the main body. The third major theory is the Conflict Theory. Conflict theory is more or less the opposite if Structural Functionalism. It is the theory of all individuals competing with one another in an effort to prevail above others. While they may work together, these are unbinding and temporary alliances and treaties.
In a religious sense, they can be a complicated number of views. In a symbolic way, religion has signs everywhere. We view the leaders of our faiths and the various preachers of said religions as leaders to ourselves to kind our immortal soul into bliss and peace. Many religions have a single leader that is considered to be a demigod unto him/herself, and is almost worshipped in the living flesh. Wars by the thousand have been fought over the way people view symbols in their life. Be it various land areas that are considered holy to a specific religion, or simply believing your one religion is the true power, the loyalty and honor to ones faith is astounding.
A Structural Functionalism view; would entail many people as one faith. All strive to act in the light of their Deity or deities, and do not want to disappoint them. They all work together within their religion to try and bring about peace and happiness to others, and to bring them into their cause. Labor should be shared and none should look down upon others that hold their same goal. All religions generally have a day when people of the faith gather and congregate in a centralized location to discuss their faith and it's teachings.
