Final answer:
Rational choice theory was applied to religious behavior by sociologists Roger Finke and Rodney Stark, who posited that individuals make rational choices to maximize benefits when choosing religions or denominations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rational choice theory (RCT) is an economic principle that assumes individuals always make prudent and logical decisions that provide them with the highest amount of personal utility. Sociologists Roger Finke and Rodney Stark were the pioneers in applying RCT to explain religious behavior, positing that individuals make rational choices in selecting their faith as a way to maximize personal positive outcomes while minimizing negative ones. This application of RCT was thought to explain religious behaviors such as choosing religions and denominations based on the fulfillment of basic human needs like belief in a supernatural being, a sense of meaning in life, and a belief in life after death.