Saint Simon's role in the development of sociological thought and his approach to religion

SAINT SIMON'S ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGICAL THOUGHT AND HIS APPROACH TO RELIGION ABSTRACT This study examines the influence of Claude Henri de Saint-Simon, a prominent figure in the emergence of sociology as a discipline, on the development of sociological thought and his approach to religion. Within a historical and sociological framework, Saint-Simon's life, works, ideas, and influence are analyzed in depth. In Europe, particularly from the late 14th century onwards, major social transformations led to significant developments in many fields, laying the groundwork for the birth of new sciences. In this process, shaped by Enlightenment thought and revolutions, Saint-Simon stood out with his search for solutions to the problems brought about by social change. By analyzing the structure of society through a scientific perspective, he contributed to laying the foundations of sociology. Saint-Simon's evaluation of society as production-centered, his development of a class and society model based on production, and his efforts to explain social needs placed him among the pioneers of classical sociology. The study addresses Saint-Simon's contributions to the formation of sociology through his ideas on industrial society, production relations, class structure, social order, the concept of progress, and moral structure, as well as his views on Reform, Protestantism, Catholicism, and the concept of "New Christianity," which provide evaluations of the social position and function of religion in modern society, within the context of their impact on the sociology of religion. The central argument of the research is that Saint-Simon, by integrating the principles of science, production, and morality, not only developed an original model for the reorganization of industrial society but also redefined the social function of religion, thereby laying the groundwork for the development of the sociology of religion. In this regard, Saint-Simon's thought inspired the positivist orientation of modern sociology and influenced subsequent thinkers with his vision of social progress grounded in knowledge, production, and moral responsibility. Finally, the study reveals how Saint-Simonian thought transformed over time into an intellectual legacy through the ideas of his students, who developed and continued his work after his death. This study aims to identify Saint-Simon's position in the development of sociological thought within historical, philosophical, and sociological contexts; to systematically present his theoretical contributions to the foundations of modern sociology, the concept of industrial society, and the social function of religion; and to contribute to the literature in this field in Turkey by providing new data and original evaluations. Keywords: Religion, Society, Sociology, Industry, Saint-Simon.