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Emile Durkheim and the sociology of religion

 

            Emile Durkheim and the sociology of religion.
             The theory claims that the real object of religious worship is not God but society itself.
             In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Durkheim argued that religion provided a framework of thought which was able to hold together the ideas and values that are shared by society.
             Durkheim believed that religion was no more than a reflection of the human need to be part of a community. He suggested that all societies needed to reaffirm their collective unity at times, and that the worship and rituals of religion provided an effective context in which to do so.
             To discover the essence of religion and the functions it served, Durkheim studied animism, totemism (religious beliefs based on the worship of sacred objects which are often thought to possess supernatural powers) and other "primitive" beliefs. "Now when primitive religious beliefs are systematically analysed, the principle categories are naturally found. They are born in religion and of religion; they are a product of religious thought." All religions divide social life into two spheres, he concluded, the sacred and the profane.
             Durkheim suggested that our natural instinct was to distinguish between the "sacred" (religious) and the "profane" (secular). further to this, Durkheim believed that our feelings towards the sacred could be compared to our feelings towards royalty or famous people.
             Durkheim believed that certain aspects of religious activity provided important facilities for people. For example;.
             v Symbols provide a focus for an outpouring of emotion or belief. Examples might include the Christian cross or the Ka"bah on Makkah for Muslims.
             v Rituals, such as the Catholic Mass or the Othodox Divine Liturgy, provide the context for a community to share experiences.
             For Durkheim, religion performs the function of integrating and strengthening the group of people who practice it. An object becomes sacred only when the community invests it with that meaning.


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