Durkheim's View On Religion
Religion has always had a powerful influence on people as individuals and on society as a whole. It is evident in the past and in todays’ world that religion has caused quite a bit of controversy. In accordance to sociology, there is not one universal way that theorists’ look at religion. Rather it is seen and portrayed differently amongst sociologists. I will discuss the ways in which Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim view religion. Both view religion quite differently; Durkheim sees it in a more positive light, whilst Marx sees it in a more negative light. Despite their differences, both seem to agree that religion has an important role in society. I will compare the views on religion from Durkheim’s “The Elementary Forms of the Religious life”
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(p. 150). This type of alienation refers to “the relation of the worker to his own activity as an alien activity not belonging to him” (p. 150). From this type of alienation, Marx explains how the actual labour becomes an object which man can only obtain through great a great amount of effort. As the worker increasingly works, the power of the alien object increases as well thus creating an alien world of objects that goes against the worker. “The poorer he himself – his inner world – becomes, the less belongs to him as his own. It is the same in religion. The more man puts into God, the less he retains in himself” (p. 150). Marx relates the negative outcomes of capitalism to religion. He infers that man becoming alienated from the labour process is similar to how man gives himself to God, that the more a man gives himself to god the more powerful god becomes and the less powerful man becomes. Just as how when man gives into his work, the more powerful his work becomes and the less powerful he himself …show more content…
Marx and Durkheim have similar views in the sense that neither of them were religious. After reading Durkheim’s piece, I was able to conclude that although Durkheim saw religion in a positive light, it was not because of the institution itself, but it was because of what the institution had to offer society. Unlike Marx, Durkheim focused on the communal nature of religion, rather than the individual nature. More so, focusing on the bonds religious activities
(p. 150). This type of alienation refers to “the relation of the worker to his own activity as an alien activity not belonging to him” (p. 150). From this type of alienation, Marx explains how the actual labour becomes an object which man can only obtain through great a great amount of effort. As the worker increasingly works, the power of the alien object increases as well thus creating an alien world of objects that goes against the worker. “The poorer he himself – his inner world – becomes, the less belongs to him as his own. It is the same in religion. The more man puts into God, the less he retains in himself” (p. 150). Marx relates the negative outcomes of capitalism to religion. He infers that man becoming alienated from the labour process is similar to how man gives himself to God, that the more a man gives himself to god the more powerful god becomes and the less powerful man becomes. Just as how when man gives into his work, the more powerful his work becomes and the less powerful he himself …show more content…
Marx and Durkheim have similar views in the sense that neither of them were religious. After reading Durkheim’s piece, I was able to conclude that although Durkheim saw religion in a positive light, it was not because of the institution itself, but it was because of what the institution had to offer society. Unlike Marx, Durkheim focused on the communal nature of religion, rather than the individual nature. More so, focusing on the bonds religious activities