...age-old issue of what religion is, Emile Durkheim and Clifford Geertz offer two quite in-depth and distinct definitions that can be viewed as very similar, yet truly different on a number of levels. In this essay, I will examine the similarities and differences between the two authors’ definitions of religion and offer my own perspective on each. Both anthropologists provide definitions that share the emphasis on religion as specific to a people, and also share the acknowledgement of rituals or practices within religion. However, Durkheim and Geertz have different fundamental, explicit concepts of religion, and in turn emphasize different aspects of religion and its social function. Many critiques on both definitions have provided a number of pros and cons to each, which in turn have led to my preference of one over the other. In examining the similarities between Durkheim and Geertz’s definitions of religion, one must observe that both authors conceptualize religion as specific to the group of people that it is present in, with limited applications outside of the group. At the heart of Emile Durkheim’s definition of religion is the concept that religion is central to society and that “religion is an eminently social thing” (DURKHEIM 2008: 39). Embedded in this idea of religion as a social entity is the concept of religion as socially-specific; as applicable only to the specific group it exists in. He goes on to claim that beliefs and rites composing a religion are “always shared...
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...Trung Vu Roxanne Ezzet Sociological Theory 375 30 April 2015 Utopia: Work in Process For as long as the human species has been living on this earth, it has always pondered with a question of whether or not a perfect place where there is forever peace, harmony, and happiness. The concept of heaven reflects this worldly desire for such dreamland. But does one have to die to live in this uncertain utopia after living morally on earth? Many argue that with the right combination of certain social and economical policies, we actually don’t have to wait till afterlife to live in an ideal society. This paper will present the classic theories and contemporary arguments circulating the essential elements of societies and from these arguments, construing what elements are most important that could be used to create an ideal society. In order to part away from the religious view that heaven can only exist in the hereafter, we try to establish a scientific explanation of how we as human beings have come to existence through the process of evolution. This theory appeals significantly to us for at least two reasons. First, it gives some of us who aren’t as religious a more satisfying validation of our origin and our destination. This view opposes Max Weber’s description of a Calvinist who always suffers great inner loneliness due to his ambiguous predestined fate. Second, the theory of evolution is in alignment with our positive and pre-established perception of progress and improvement...
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...Suicide is the action of intentionally killing oneself. According to statistics, there has bee a significant increase of 80% suicides, since the previous year. Durkheim believed that suicide rates were dependent on social factors, related to both scientific laws and facts, such as religion, education and the media. Durkheim conducted a range of research to prove these predictions. For example, he found that Catholics had lower suicide rates than Protestants. From these findings concluded that suicide is caused by social factors such as too little/too much social integration and too little/too much moral regulation. Within the Catholic Church suicide is seen as a sin therefore due to this religious tie Catholics are less likely to commit suicide. Additionally, an example of suicide based on too much moral regulation is Palestinian suicide bombings. According to Durkheim, these two social factors create a typology of suicide. Altruistic suicide is due to too much social integration. Egoistic suicide is due to too little social integration. Fatalistic suicide is due to too much moral regulation. Anomic suicide is due to too little moral regulation. Furthermore, many positivists have built on Durkheim’s work. Including Sainsbury who found that social disorganisation, Anomic suicide, was the most popular type of suicide and Hallowach who found urban to rural changes make Egoistic suicide more likely. Durkheim’s work, being a Positivist, made making generalisations possible...
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...]Introduction: Good afternoon ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the conference. Today Professor Durkheim will be addressing us on his views in terms of: Industrialization: Division of labour: Social Solidarity: Suicide: Religion: He has brought some of his esteemed colleagues, who will be assisting him in his presentation. Let’s Welcome Professor Durkheim. (Enter Shaun) Industrialization is associated with the urbanization of society, an extensive division of labour, a wage economy, differentiation of institutions, and growth of mass communication and mass markets. Durkheim believes that there are two aspects to the division of labour: 1. Increases both the reproductive capacity and skill of the workman, it is the necessary condition for the intellectual and material development in societies. 2. DOL has a moral character which is more important. It can create a feeling of solidarity between two or more people (Samantha) There are two types of solidarity: 1. Mechanical solidarity- links the individual to society without any intermediary. Society is organized collectively and is composed of beliefs common to all members of the group. The bond which unites the individual with society is completely analogous to that which links the thing to the person. The individual consciousness depends on the collective consciousness. 2. Organic solidarity- the society is a system of different functions united by definite relationships (83). This brings about the...
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...SOUTHERN RURAL SOCIOLOGY, 24(1), 2009, pp. 200–222. Copyright © by the Southern Rural Sociological Association DURKHEIM DID NOT SAY “NORMLESSNESS”: THE CONCEPT OF ANOMIC SUICIDE FOR INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY COURSES PHYLLIS PUFFER BIG SANDY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE ABSTRACT The definitions of anomic suicide presented in introductory sociology textbooks from 1996 to 2007 were compared with the definition given by Durkheim in his own writings both in the original French and the English translation. It was found that only one textbook correctly gave Durkheim’s own definition while the other definitions showed little or no relationship to the original concept. The original concept was based on an analysis of the economy, more particularly the business cycle, and refers only to the structure of society and not to the mental state of the individual. An attempt is made to discover the source of such a widespread and well-accepted error. All of us are concerned about the introductory course in sociology, no matter the august reaches of academe we might have attained. Nearly all of us have taught it at least once, if only as teaching assistants during our graduate school days. Some of us always teach it. The rest depend on it as a basis for their advanced courses, for a supply of research assistants, and ultimately to build public appreciation and support for the field. If we think of the number of students who take introductory sociology in just one small...
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...Department of Primary Education PROGRAMME: Bachelor of Education Primary COURSE: Sociology of Religion COURSE CODE: TRS 315 Assignment: identify either Karl Marxx or Max Weber and compare his ideas with any other theorist who expressed his/her views on religion. Names: Oabona Moses Sello ID #: 201204434 Due date: April 15 2014 Introduction This essay intends to explicitly compare Karl Marx and Emile David Durkheim ideas on religion from a sociological and functionalist perspective. Functionalists’ belief that religion is beneficial for both the community and its members e.g. it unifies the society which in turn gives each individual member a source of support when they need it. It will begin with their brief historical backgrounds, definition of religion as well as their similarities and differences in studying it. Karl Marx Marx was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. He began exploring sociopolitical theories at university among the Young Hegelians. He became a journalist, and his socialist writings would get him expelled from Germany and France. In 1848, he published The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to London, where he wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and lived the remainder of his life (Engels, 1869). Marx is considered as one of the founders of economic history and sociology. Emile Durkheim According to Jones (1986) “David Emile Durkheim was born in France, on April 15, 1857 and raised in a Jewish family with his father as a rabbi...
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... Sanctuary cities What is a sanctuary city? A city that protects illegal immigrant rights and also from being deported back to their country. Recently Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 known as the Sanctuary Cities Bill, banning sanctuary cities across Texas. He is declaring that its needed to keep Texans safe. Giving grater freedom to local Texas police to ask people, who have been detained about their immigration status, and mandates cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Officials who do not cooperate with federal immigrations authorities could be fined or even jailed. Those that are in favor of banning sanctuary cities argue that sanctuary cities protect criminals creating a dangerous environment for U.S citizens. We also have those who oppose the law thinking that it’s unconstitutional worrying it will turn routine exchanges like traffic stops into excuses for police to target undocumented immigrants indiscriminately deport people who have committed no crimes, separate families, and cause people to live in constant fear for deportation and its devastating consequences. Some lawmakers also worry it could discourage undocumented immigrants who are victims of crimes from contacting the police because they fear that the police would about them about their immigration status. Also by deporting the millions of undocumented people will cost millions and millions of dollars, that will only hurt the economy. I personally think that this law will only cause more...
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...Contrary to Turner who talks about the life lived through rituals elaborating on the things that follow and the use of symbols, Durkheim talks especially about the evidence of sociality of religion and the sacredness of rituals. The most essential elements of religion that exists today are also found in the primitive society and the religious practices followed by them, which is the motivation behind Durkheim using religious practices being followed by Australian aborigines as a reference point for the pivotal theory of social religion. Durkheim in this work, elementary forms of life goes on to show how we experience the sacred through rituals. He elaborates on ‘positive rites’ and ‘negative rites’ where former is associated with celebrating...
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...understanding religion theory Functionalist believe that religion is good for society as they believe it creates value consensus in which is a set of shared norm and values that society cannot live without. Functionalists believe that religion plays an important part in creating and maintain social solidarity and order as well as value consensus. They take on the consensus view. The first functionalist to put forward his view on religion was Durkheim who believed that religion was the origin of human thought, reason and science. Durkheim put forward a view of religion that wasn’t about gods or spirits but about the distinction between the sacred and the profane. The sacred is things that are set apart that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder. Durkheim said that religion practices rituals in relation to the sacred and these rituals are collective. He argued that because society is the only thing powerful to evoke such feelings, then people were actually worshipping society. Although Durkheim acknowledged different religion worshipped different sacred symbols, all religions perform a function in society in which brings each other into one moral community. Durkheim also did a case study in Australia of the Arunta clan to further his understanding. He talked about the clan having a sacred totem in which they would all come together and worship. Durkheim argued that this reinforced the group’s solidarity and sense of belonging. Once again Durkheim said that for religions to worship...
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...Role of religion in human culture Anthropologists define religion as a cultural universal that encompasses beliefs and behavior concerned with supernatural beings, powers and forces (Kottak, 2013). Even though it is a human universal, the rules of religion vary from culture to culture. Even within the major religious traditions, there may be a great many variations. Methodist traditions are different from Baptists who are widely different from Catholic tradition. Signs of religion date back as far as sixty to one hundred thousand years. Prior to the Neanderthals there were no signs of religion. Neanderthals were the first to bury their dead, suggesting a belief in an afterlife. Religion serves many different functions in society. First and foremost, it provides an answer to universal questions humans have. These questions are: What am I? Where do I come from and where do I go? What is death? What happens when I die? Why do bad things happen? What is the meaning of life? Religion can provide a sense of comfort and security to people as it provides explanations for events that are outside of people’s control. It also can establish and “maintain social control through a series of moral and ethical beliefs along with real or imagined rewards and punishments. (Kottak, 2013)” For most religious people, their beliefs are the very core of their world views. These believes also are important in defining humans’ ideas of what is right and wrong. If one does the right...
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...explicitly compare Karl Marx and Emile David Durkheim ideas on religion from a sociological and functionalist perspective. Functionalists’ belief that religion is beneficial for both the community and its members e.g. it unifies the society which in turn gives each individual member a source of support when they need it. It will begin with their brief historical backgrounds, definition of religion as well as their similarities and differences in studying it. Karl Marx Marx was born in Prussia on May 5, 1818. He began exploring sociopolitical theories at university among the Young Hegelians. He became a journalist, and his socialist writings would get him expelled from Germany and France. In 1848, he published The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to London, where he wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and lived the remainder of his life (Engels, 1869). Marx is considered as one of the founders of economic history and sociology. Emile Durkheim According to Jones (1986) “David Emile Durkheim was born in France, on April 15, 1857 and raised in a Jewish family with his father as a rabbi. Emile was, thus destined for the rabbinate, and a part of his early education was spent in a rabbinical school” (p.12). Durkheim is considered the father of modern sociology and well known for his work on Division of Labour in 1912. Definition of Religion Both Marx and Durkheim have rather contrasting definitions of what religion is with the former describing it basically...
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...Philosophy of Religion Essay: Religious experience at Ram Mandir Hinduism is one of the oldest religions since the beginning of time and has grown from its ancient roots to become the third largest religion in the world. The majority of its followers originate in India and Nepal. Hinduism is a religion based on traditional values and philosophies that have evolved in India over period of more than a thousand years. On my visit to the Ram Mandir while I experienced a puja, “which is a name for prayers in Hinduism”. (V,2011) among the people, I noticed two different patterns that they follow, and observed that Hinduism has related the patterns to Emilie Durkheim’s and Stuart Hall’s theories of social solidarity and culture respectively through use of prayers and congregations, which is going to be the main focus of my essay in Hinduism the distinct patterns while performing the prayers. The two patterns are congregation who came together for the ritual performed by the Pundits( priests) and the book that priest themselves distributed to the people. The first pattern that was visible to me in the Ram Mandir was based on the congregation who came together for the ritual performed by the Pundits (priests). This gathering of people had a majority of Asian descendants which were mostly North Indians that spoke Hindi. Also, there were different languages that were being spoken by south Indians that are dark skinned, which were easy to distinguish. Since, Hindi is the most common...
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...and religion appear to have little in common, apart from being perennial human activities. Religion is transcendent, concerned with the divine, and involves sacred things. Sport is immanent, concerned with the human, and involves profane things. However, a deeper examination reveals that there are at least five ways in which sport and religion are deeply interrelated: first, it can be demonstrated that, in pre-modern societies, ritualized sport was very often part of worship of the gods; second, altered states of consciousness attained during sport have frequently been compared to religious or mystical experiences; third, some modern sporting champions have professed religious faith and attributed their success to divine power; fourth, the devotion of fans to sporting teams and individual “stars” resembles religions fervor; fifth and final, in the modern West, sport has become a functional equivalent of religion for some people. These connections between religion and sport are undeniable, but not uncontroversial. Scholars and critics who have attempted to articulate them and offer explanations for them have encountered pitfalls. Adherents of traditional religions such as Judaism and Christianity have vigorously objected to the equation of sport with religion and of sporting “peak experiences” with religious experiences or mysticism. Christian commentators have questioned how compatible the modern sporting ethos of bodily perfection and fierce competition is with a religion focused...
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...usefulness of functionalist theories in understanding religion today Functionalists see society as a system that works together as a whole. Functionalism is based on a consensus; this is where each institution functions to help society by working together. Functionalists argue that religion is one of the institutions that promote social integration and social solidarity through value consensus. It is need to maintain social control Durkheim argues that religion brings people together creating social solidarity. This is done through ceremonies and ritual which unite people whether they are religious or not. He argues that most religions have ceremonies such as christenings, marriages, and funerals. Durkheim disguises between the sacred and the profane which are found in every religion. The sacred are things that are set apart or forbidden such as churches, temples. These things produce a sense of awe and respect where are profane does not. Profane are objects, activities which feature in individual’s daily life, such as shopping. Durkheim argues that ceremonies take people away from their profane part of life and bring into the sacred part of their lives. This creates a collective conscience as it unites society. Society today is more secular due to the reduction of religious beliefs rituals and ceremonies still bring people together. Functionalist would argue that even today religion still maintains social integration Durkheim argues that there is nothing special about sacred...
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...Outline of Leviticus 21:1 – 22:16 I. The Laws for all Priests a. Rules dealing with the dead b. Rules for mourning c. Rules concerning marriage and family II. The Laws for High Priests a. Responsibility of the High Priest b. Rules dealing with the dead c. Rules concerning marriage III. Laws concerning priests with physical abnormalities IV. Laws concerning priest cleanliness a. Types of uncleanness b. Rules for becoming clean c. Rules about eating wild animals V. Laws about lay people a. Rules concerning eating sacred donations b. Remedies for unintentional eating c. Treatment of all offerings The passages in Leviticus 21:1 – 22:16 are concerned with the purity and holiness of the priests and the preparation and consumption of sacred sacrifices. These laws were dictated by God through Moses and are intended for Aaron and his decedents. The priests come from the tribe of Levi; the family of Aaron. They come at a time when the Israelites have been lead out of Egypt by Moses and had settled at Mount Sinai before crossing over to the land promised to their ancestors. God has taken this time to establish many laws and commandments covering many areas of everyday life, human interaction, and what is considered just and fair. In this section of Leviticus, we learn of the laws governing priestly functions and sacred sacrifices. This is a key area of concern for God because the priests are the only people with direct interaction with God and are the spiritual...
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