Society as Sacred:

Émile Durkheim
uh·meel durk · hime

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 Émile Durkheim
brief biography
Early Life and Education:
• Émile Durkheim was born on April 15, 1858, in Épinal, France, into a
Jewish family.
• He came from a long line of rabbis, but he decided to pursue a secular
education and became interested in the social sciences. he was strongly
affected a schoolteacher who was a Roman Catholic
• Durkheim attended the Collège d'Épinal and later the Lycée Louis-le-
Grand in Paris, where he excelled in his studies.
• He went on to study philosophy at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS)
in Paris, where he was influenced by the works of Auguste Comte,
Herbert Spencer, and other social thinkers.
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Émile Durkheim
brief biography
Academic Career:
• Durkheim's academic career began with teaching philosophy in various
French secondary schools.
• In 1887, he published his first major work, "The Division of Labor in
Society," which marked the beginning of his sociological career.
• He became a professor of sociology at the University of Bordeaux in
1887 and later held the first official academic position in sociology at the
University of Paris (Sorbonne) in 1902.
• Durkheim founded the journal "L'Année Sociologique" in 1898, which
played a pivotal role in advancing sociological research and theory.

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Émile Durkheim
brief biography
Legacy:
• Émile Durkheim's contributions laid the foundation for the development
of sociology as a distinct academic discipline.
• He made significant strides in defining the boundaries of sociology and
establishing it as a legitimate scientific field.
• Durkheim's ideas continue to influence sociological research, and he is
considered one of the key figures in classical sociology.
• He passed away on November 15, 1917, in Paris, France, but his work
continues to be studied and respected by sociologists and social scientists
worldwide.
Émile Durkheim's legacy endures not only in the field of sociology but also
in the broader understanding of how society, norms, and social structures
shape human behavior and interactions. His contributions continue to be a
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source of inspiration and study for scholars in various social THEORIES OF RELIGION
sciences.
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Émile Durkheim
• Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) was a prominent French sociologist.
• Known as the "father of sociology," he pioneered the field of sociology
as an academic discipline.
• Durkheim is renowned for his work on social integration, highlighting
the importance of social bonds in maintaining stability in societies.
• His groundbreaking study, "Suicide" (1897), examined the social factors
influencing suicide rates.
• Durkheim emphasized the role of collective conscience and social norms
in shaping human behavior.
• He co-founded the journal "L'Année Sociologique" and taught at
prestigious institutions like the University of Bordeaux and the
University of Paris.
• His theories continue to influence sociological research and have a
lasting impact on the understanding of social phenomena.
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 Idea and Influences
• Social Origins of Religion: Durkheim argued that religion originates from society itself,
emphasizing the collective consciousness and shared values of a community as the foundation of
religious beliefs and rituals.
• Collective Effervescence: He believed that religious rituals create a sense of community and unity
among believers through collective emotional experiences, reinforcing social bonds.
• Functionalism: Durkheim viewed religion as serving a crucial function in maintaining social order
and cohesion, providing moral guidance and a sense of purpose to individuals.
• Influence on Structural Functionalism: His ideas laid the foundation for the structural functionalist
perspective in sociology, which examines how institutions like religion contribute to the stability of
society.
• Comparative Method: Durkheim used a comparative approach to study various religious forms and
their impact on society, contributing to the development of comparative sociology and
anthropology.
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• Influence on Later Sociologists: His work has influenced numerous sociologists, such as Talcott Cuenca
 Politics, Education, and
Moral
Émile Durkheim, a prominent sociologist,
examined the connections between
religion, politics, education, and morality
in his theories.
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 Religion and Politics:
• Durkheim recognized the close relationship between religion and politics. In his view, religion plays a
significant role in the moral and social integration of a society.
• He believed that religious beliefs and rituals contribute to the cohesion of a community by promoting a
shared set of values and norms.
• These shared values, instilled through religion, influence political institutions and governance by shaping
the moral foundation of laws and regulations.
• Durkheim argued that religion can provide a moral framework that guides the behavior of individuals and
helps maintain social order. In this sense, religion indirectly influences political structures and governance

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 Religion and Education:
• Durkheim also explored the relationship between religion and education. He saw education as a key
institution for transmitting societal values and norms, similar to religion.
• In many societies, religious teachings and moral values are integrated into educational curricula, reinforcing
the moral fabric of society.
• Durkheim emphasized that education, like religion, contributes to social cohesion by imparting a common
set of beliefs and values to younger generations.
• He believed that education should serve as a mechanism for instilling the collective conscience of society,
ensuring the continuity of shared moral norms.

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 Moral and Religious Influence:

• Durkheim contended that religion serves as a primary source of morality within a society. It
provides a framework for distinguishing between right and wrong, defining moral boundaries.
• The collective conscience, shaped by religious beliefs and rituals, influences individuals' moral
choices and behavior.
• Durkheim argued that religion helps maintain moral order by encouraging conformity to societal
norms. When individuals engage in religious rituals and adhere to religious teachings, they
reinforce these moral boundaries.

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in summary,
Emile Durkheim's theories of religion highlight the intertwined
nature of religion, politics, education, and morality. Religion,
according to Durkheim, serves as a foundational institution that
contributes to social integration, shapes moral values, and
indirectly influences political and educational systems by
promoting a shared moral framework within society. His work
underscores the sociological significance of religion in
maintaining social order and cohesion.
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 Sociology and “the Social”
by Émile Durkheim

• Sociology: Sociology is the scientific study of society, human

behavior, and social interactions. It seeks to understand and analyze
the patterns, structures, and dynamics of human societies, from
small groups to large-scale institutions. Sociologists use research
methods and theories to examine various aspects of society,
including culture, social norms, inequality, institutions, and social
change. Sociology helps us gain insights into how societies
function, how they influence individuals, and how individuals, in
turn, impact society.
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Sociology and “the Social”
by Émile Durkheim

"The Elementary Forms of Religious Life" by Émile

Durkheim:

• "The Elementary Forms of Religious Life" ("Les formes

élémentaires de la vie religieuse") is one of Émile
Durkheim's most influential works, published in 1912.
In this book, Durkheim examines the nature of religion
and its role in society.

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 "The Elementary Forms of Religious
Life" by Émile Durkheim:

• Definition of Religion: Durkheim defines religion as a system of beliefs and practices that centers
around things considered sacred and set apart from the profane. It involves rituals and collective
activities that bind individuals together.
• The Sacred and the Profane: Durkheim introduces the concept of the sacred, which represents the
transcendent and extraordinary, and the profane, which is the ordinary, everyday aspects of life.
Religion, he argues, creates a distinction between these two realms.
• Collective Consciousness: Durkheim explores the idea of collective consciousness, which is the
shared beliefs, values, and moralities of a society. He suggests that religious rituals help maintain
and reinforce this collective consciousness, fostering social cohesion.
• Totemism: Durkheim uses the example of totemism, where groups worship a totem (a symbol or
object representing a group or clan), to illustrate his ideas. He argues that totemism exemplifies the
most basic and fundamental religious form.
• Function of Religion: Durkheim emphasizes the functional role of religion in promoting social
integration, solidarity, and stability. He sees it as a way for individuals to come together, share
values, and maintain social order.
• Critique
"Theof Individualism:
Elementary Durkheim
Forms of Religiouschallenges the individualistic
Life" is significant perspective,
for its exploration of the asserting that
religion is a collective
relationship betweenphenomenon that cannot
religion and society, be reducedtototheindividual
its contributions psychological
study of ritual, and its needs alone.
influence on the development of sociological theories of religion. Durkheim's work has hadCT-275 THEORIES OF RELIGION
a lasting impact on the sociology of religion and remains a foundational text in the field of Ptr Teejay Cuenca
Previous Theories: Naturism and
Animism
Naturism

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Previous Theories: Naturism and
Animism
Animism

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 Previous Theories: Naturism and
Animism
Naturism
• Naturism, as discussed by Durkheim, refers to the belief
that spirits or sacred forces exist within natural elements
like rocks, trees, rivers, and mountains.
• Durkheim observed that in societies characterized by
Naturism, these natural elements are considered sacred
and are the focus of religious rituals and beliefs.
• He saw Naturism as a primitive form of religion where
the sacred and the profane are deeply intertwined with
the natural world.
• For Durkheim, Naturism exemplified how religion
served as a means of connecting individuals to the
collective conscience of society, as people gathered
around shared natural symbols and beliefs.
Animism
• Animism, as Durkheim described it, is the belief in
spirits or souls that inhabit both living beings and
inanimate objects.
• He considered Animism an even more elementary form
of religion than Naturism, where spirits are believed to
be present not just in nature but also within humans and
animals.
• Animistic beliefs, according to Durkheim, contribute to
the development of collective representations and rituals,
reinforcing social cohesion and solidarity.
• Durkheim argued that Animism, like Naturism,
demonstrates the essential role of religion in creating a
shared moral and symbolic CT-275
world forTHEORIES
a community.OF RELIGION
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 Assumptions
Émile Durkheim made several key assumptions in his theories of religion. One fundamental
assumption was that society is an external, objective reality that exists independently of
individuals, and it exerts a significant influence on their behavior. He also assumed that
religion is a social phenomenon, not reducible to individual psychology, and plays a crucial
role in maintaining social order and cohesion. Durkheim believed in the existence of a
collective consciousness, shared beliefs and values that bind individuals together.
Additionally, he assumed that empirical research and data could be used to scientifically
study religious phenomena and understand their social functions. These assumptions formed
the foundation of Durkheim's sociological approach to religion.
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 Evidence

In his study of Naturism and Animism, Durkheim aimed to uncover

the fundamental principles underlying religious life and how religious
beliefs and rituals contribute to social integration and the
maintenance of collective consciousness. While he didn't develop
distinct "theories" of Naturism and Animism, he used these concepts
to illustrate his broader sociological ideas about religion and its role
in society. CT-275 THEORIES OF RELIGION
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Reductionism
Émile Durkheim in his theories of religion opposed reductionism.
Reductionism refers to the practice of explaining complex phenomena by
reducing them to simpler, individualistic, or psychological components.
Durkheim argued against reducing religion solely to individual beliefs or
psychological needs. Instead, he emphasized the importance of
considering religion as a complex social phenomenon with collective and
moral dimensions. Durkheim believed that religion was shaped by
external social forces and played a significant role in maintaining social
order and cohesion. His work aimed to understand religion in its societal
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context, rejecting simplistic reductionist explanations. Ptr Teejay Cuenca
 Émile Durkheim
• Social Origin: Durkheim believed that
religion originates from society itself,
emphasizing the collective
consciousness and shared values of a
community.
• Collective Effervescence: He argued
that religious rituals create a sense of
community and unity among believers
through collective rituals and emotional
experiences.
• Function: Durkheim saw religion as
serving a crucial function in maintaining
social order and cohesion.
French
sociologist
• Both recognized the role
of rituals in religion,
though they explained
their significance
differently.
• They acknowledged that
religion plays a significant
role in human society,
either through social
cohesion (Durkheim) or
psychological comfort
(Freud).
Sigmund Freud
• Psychological Origin: Freud proposed
that religion originates from individual
psychological needs and desires, such as
the need for comfort and protection
(father figure) and the need to cope with
existential anxiety.
• Oedipus Complex: He suggested that
religious figures like God and religious
rituals provide a symbolic resolution to
the Oedipus complex and primal fears.
• Wish Fulfillment: Freud saw religion as
a form of wish fulfillment, where
believers create a protective, benevolent
image of God to satisfy their desires.
Austrian
neurologist
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