Value-Neutrality and Prejudice

Rudi Heredia ANDRE BETEILLE's 'Religion as a Subject for Sociology' (EPW, August 29) calls for some comments.
The use of the comparative method in sociology as urged by Durkheim and the 'empathetic understanding' of Weber have indeed been put to constructive use in the sociology of religion. Beteille would have these extended to the study of politics for "the lesson that the social theorist learn from the study of religion cannot be altogether without value for the study of politics" (p 1868). He writes: