Emile Durkheim Religion

Emile Durkheim discusses in great detail the connection between social life and religion in the writing The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. He highlights religion as a functionality in society that offers collective ideas about what is deemed morally acceptable. Emile Durkheim examines how symbols and rituals are categories of religion that can be considered fundamentally sacred or profane. “Most important, objects are intrinsically neither sacred nor profane; rather, their meaning is continually altered in collective process of ritualization and symbolization” (Durkheim in Appelrouth and Edles 2016:124).
When studying religion and social life, Emile Durkheim came to the conclusion that society came before religion; in order for there
to be religion, society has to be present. For society to function, religion has to play a role in peoples everyday moral codes This bring society a sense of unity and cohesion. Individuals that have a sense of cohesion with others, come together at institutions where they form a sense of community and bond with one another. Religion is not just based on worship and ceremonies, but also on acknowledgment of social life and results in the coming together of a society. Emile Durkheim explains that religion or secular beliefs and rites keep society functioning, giving individuals collective representation of how they should act in society. It also gives people a sense of social consciousness, meaning it gives people a sense of awareness in their social lives. An individual that is aware of the general norms of society, and follows them, is playing a role in a functioning society by being aware of what is socially acceptable. Durkheim explained that no matter if parties are political, economic or confessional, they have to come together periodically to refresh their common faith. If the members of a group are left by themselves, the commonality would weaken. Durkheim explained it is important to bring members into close active relations with one another (Durkheim in Appelrouth and Edles 2016) (Appelrouth and Edles 2016).
This idea of a functional society is carried out through the process of ritualization and symbolization. Ritualization are highly symbolic acts, such as taking communion or being baptized. These rituals can also be rites such as an individual putting their right hand over their heart when saying the pledge of allegiance. When Americans stand to say the pledge of allegiance, they know the words and collectively recite it. This gives the American people a sense of national pride and togetherness. In order for something such as the pledge of allegiance to be a ritual, there has to be collective understanding that good citizens stand and recite it. Because of that, that ritual is considered a collective celebration. Symbols –like rituals—are in individuals day to day lives.
Symbols can either be sacred, profane, and sometimes both. The American flag symbolizes freedom for many people. Flags can be profane by being put on a key or a bumper sticker, but we as a society are constantly creating sacred things out of profane or ordinary things. The American flag is sacred to many because it has been decided by the public that it symbolizes liberty and equality for all. If a man were to burn the flag he would be violating a social norm. Americans have come to an agreement that the flag needs to be respected and if individuals disrespect the flag, they will pay the consequences. The flag is a symbol that is regarded sacred to devoted Americans. Emile Durkheim explains that things that may have been secular were turned sacred by bringing about a ritual. A symbol can be profane, but when there is a ritual tied to a symbol this brings about a sacred element. The flag is a symbol connected with a ritual, which is saying the pledge of allegiance. Durkheim mentioned the clan should rely on the idea of the totem or symbol rather than that of the clan. Durkheim mentioned it is no longer about the clan but rather about the morals and ideas behind the totem or the symbol. It is no longer about the individual but the collective ideas and what is common to the clan, which in this case is the flag (totem). During a ceremony or ritual, the symbol is the center of all regards. It is what represents collective ideas and meanings and is categorized as fundamentally sacred by the community. “Thus social life, in all its aspects and in every period of its history, is made possible only by a vast symbolism” (Durkheim in Appelrouth and Edles 2016:136) (Appelrouth and Edles
2016). Emile Durkheim believed that religion was a product of society. In order for society to function there needs to be cohesion and a collective belief of morals. Emile Durkheim explained that religion is part of a functioning society, but in order for society to function, symbols and rituals need to be established by the community and a common set of norms should be in agreement with the community. “If religion has given birth to all that is essential in society, it is because the idea of society is the soul religion” (Durkheim in Appelrouth and Edles 2016:136).

Work cited

Appelrouth, Scott and Laura Desfor Edles. 2016. Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theory: Text and Readings. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.