Sociology as a Spiritual Practice: How Studying People Can Make You a Better Person

Christopher Pieper, Ph.D. is Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Director in Sociology at Baylor University. He earned his B.A. in Communication with Honors in 1996 from Southwestern University and his graduate degrees from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998 (M.A., Journalism) and 2011 (Ph.D., Sociology).

Prior to returning to academia in 2004, Pieper was for six years Communications Director at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a research and advocacy organization working on behalf of low-income Texans. He has also taught at UTAustin, Southwestern University, and the College of William and Mary. He teaches introductory sociology, Senior Colloquium, social psychology, social movements, and graduate courses in political sociology and contemporary theory.

Pieper is the author of numerous publications on religion and social movements, political sociology, media culture, and conflict. His first book, Sociology as a Spiritual Practice: How Studying People Can Make You a Better Person, was published in 2015. Using illustrations from current events, comparative religion, and new social research, the book demonstrates that practicing social science cultivates empathy, mindfulness, and the virtues that bring lasting happiness. Far from being enemies, spirituality and social science are seen as complementary paths toward personal and collective flourishing.