Synopses & Reviews
In this 1912 classic, a founder of modern sociology seeks the enduring source of human social identity. Émile Durkheim presents a remarkably accessible examination of animism, naturism, totemism, myth, and ritual. His intriguing views and ultimate conclusionthat the source of religion and morality lies in collective consciousness, rather than in individual mindsremains a topic of debate among sociologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, philosophers, and theologians.
Durkheim edited L'Année Sociologique, the first journal of sociology, and was instrumental in establishing the field as a social science. With The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life, he explores totemism among Australia's Aborigines, offering the opportunity "to yield an understanding of the religious nature of man, by showing us an essential and permanent aspect of humanity." Durkheim's study focuses on the need and capacity of humans to relate to one another socially, with religion as the core of the moral universe. An excellent introduction to the influential sociologist's ideas, this book continues to speak to new generations about the intriguing origin and nature of religion and society.
Synopsis
In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912), Emile Durkheim sets himself the task of discovering the enduring source of human social identity. He investigates what he considered to be the simplest form of documented religion - totemism among the Aborigines of Australia. For Durkheim,
studying Aboriginal religion was a way 'to yield an understanding of the religious nature of man, by showing us an essential and permanent aspect of humanity'. The need and capacity of men and women to relate to one another socially lies at the heart of Durkheim's exploration, in which religion
embodies the beliefs that shape our moral universe.
The Elementary Forms has been applauded and debated by sociologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, philosophers, and theologians, and continues to speak to new generations about the intriguing origin and nature of religion and society. This new, lightly abridged edition provides an excellent
introduction to Durkheim's ideas.
Synopsis
In this 1912 classic, a founder of modern sociology examines animism, naturism, totemism, myth, and ritual. Durkheim maintains that the source of religion and morality lies in collective consciousness, rather than in individual minds. His intriguing views are still a topic of debate among sociologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, philosophers, and theologians.
Synopsis
A founder of modern sociology examines animism, naturism, totemism, myth, and ritual in this 1912 classic, which traces the source of religion and morality to a collective consciousness.
Table of Contents
Religious Sociology and the Theory of KnowledgeBook I: Preliminary QuestionsDefinition of Religious Phenomena and of ReligionLeading Conceptions ofo the Elementary ReligionTotemism as an Elementary ReligionBook II: The Elementary BeliefsTotemic BeliefsOrigins of these BeliefsThe Idea of the SoulThe Idea of Spirits and GodsBook III: The Principal Ritual AttitudesThe Negative Cult and its FunctionsThe Positive CultPiacular Rites and the Ambiguity of the Notion of SacrednessConclusion