Durkheim on religion

4 of Durkheim’s key ideas of religion

1. Totenism

2. Sacred and profane

3. Collective conscience

4. Cognitive functions

Define and provide an example of totenism

Totenism is a form of animism. A symbol that represents community, of which they worship.

For example, Arunta Australian Tribe: They are a clan who worship plants and animals as it provides a sense of origin and social solidarity

Define collective conscience and what Durkheim argued it did for religion

Collective conscience is a shared norms, values, beliefs and knowledge.

Makes social life and cooperation possible between people.

Define the cognitive functions of religion

• Durkheim sees religion as not only social solidarity but also our ability to think conceptually

• Origin of human thought, knowledge and science

• People need concepts such as time, space, reality to make sense of the world.

Evaluate Durkheim + theorist

Weakness: Worsley argues the evidence on totenism is unsound (not reliable).

• No division between sacred and profane

• Different clans share the same totem

• Even if he is right about totenism, it does not mean he is right about the essence of all other religions.