LJ Sociology Unit 6

Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist. He was one of the most important founders of sociology.
Some of his works were based on individual conscience. He believed that human societies could be
studied scientifically. He then went on to develop a new methodology that was highly focused on
social facts. It also focused on elements of collective life that would manage to influence the
individual’s life. Using this method, he published some of his work. He is the well-known author of
the book, ‘on the division of social labour.’ He also wrote the rule of sociological method, suicide and
the elementary forms of religious life. When he started writing, sociology was not a recognised
independent field of study. According to the internet encyclopedia (n.d.), his aim was to make
sociology a distinct study and separated from subjects such as philosophy. He recognised that
sociology and philosophy are somehow complementary, but that philosophy and sociology are
distinct. He used his findings to be able to approach topics that had traditionally been reserved for
further investigation. He was politically engaged, but he kept these engagements very distinct.
He is also the author of the book that is titled, ‘the elementary forms of the religious life.’ In this
book he addresses topics such as the distinction of animism and naturism. He looks at how people
view the soul and the transformation of the cult. He discusses the fact that he believed death does
not explain the transformation of the soul into the spirit. He did some work into religion and well in
depth with was he believed religion is and why people follow rules that they cannot prove with facts.
He also mentions that he believes that religion is nothing more than a system of hallucinations. In his
work he also looks at naturalism. He also goes in depth on topics such as totemic beliefs (Durkheim,
1964).
Considering this week’s reading material, it relates because these sociologists aimed to study religion
and find the reasoning as to why people put effort into trying to incorporate religion in their lives.
This week we looked at the differences between the way that different people define religion and the
importance that they attach to it. We analysed the different dimensions that religion looks at. These
examples are the beliefs, rituals, experiences and the community. In this week’s study we also like
the sociologist looked at the topics and discussions that are surrounding animism, monotheism,
polytheism, and atheism. These practices could include only believing that there is on God, believing
and praying to several gods, or believing that there is no God at all. We saw the differences between
the five world religions. We contrasted and saw the similarities and the differences between
churches and cults. There is a constant battle of what is true. People want to know the difference
between science and faith. All over the globe there are questions that arise on the movement of
secularisation and how they add and take from religion. Religion is the answer to people’s questions
as to why people suffer and why the world is in this state when there is a creature of it all (Little,
2016).
We also analysed education and how it plays a role in societies all around the world. Education
allows for a person to be informed and therefore could make their own decisions. We saw the
differences in the educational resources that are around the world. With an increase in the resources
that are available means that students perform better and can contribute better to the economy of
the country when they grow up. We analysed that we should have a goal to ensure that all children’s
have access to education. We explained the way that education played a role in implementing latent
and manifest functions. These topics allow us to see the way that people see religion and their desire
to learn more about it. However, the spiritual realm cannot be proved or disproved. It is therefore
important that we recognise the fact that we should handle this topic wisely as people hold religion
close to their hearts.
References:
Durkheim, E. (1964). The elementary forms of the religious life. George Allen & Unwin
LTD. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41360/41360-h/41360-h.htm#Page_23.
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.). Émile Durkheim. IEP: A Peer-Reviewed Academic

Resource. https://iep.utm.edu/durkheim/
Little, W. (2016). Introduction to Sociology.

BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology2ndedition/

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Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist. He was one of the most important founders of sociology.

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.). Émile Durkheim. IEP: A Peer-Reviewed Academic

Little, W. (2016). Introduction to Sociology.

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