Sociology of Religion Notes

Emile Durkheim's Definition of Religion

  • Durkheim defined religion as "A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden - - beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community…"

Collective Effervescence

  • Collective effervescence is a state of intense shared emotional experience.
  • It creates a sense of unison that emerges during instances of collective behavior.