The classical theories of sociology, that is, of Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, were both m

The classical theories of sociology, that is, of Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, were both monumental and flawed. Their main weakness lies in the weaknesses inherent in sociology: it is vague, unscientific, and reductive. [Hmmmm. Would you want to shout this out in Social Science? on what grounds do you make such charges?] However, although their analyses of religion built from this flawed social science, they were keenly aware of sociology’s historical shortfalls [perhaps less apparent when they wrote] and factored this [refers?] into their arguments, which set precedents in the study of the sociology of religion. Thus They established religion as an explanation for [MW more than ED] social phenomena and moved religion into the sphere of authority [means?] and association with sociology.