Durkheim's theories on religion
- Created by: jodi newman
- Created on: 11-01-18 09:57
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- Functionalist theories of religion (Durkheim)
- The sacred and the profane
- The sacred= things set apart and forbidden that inspire feelings of awe, fear and wonder and are surrounded by taboos
- The profane= things that are ordinary and mundane.
- Sacred things evoke powerful feelings in believers so Durkheim believes this is because they are symbols representing something of great power
- When people worship sacred symbols, they are worshipping society.
- Totemism
- The totem= the clan's emblem, such as an animal or plant that symbolises origins and identity.
- The shared totemic rituals serve to reinforce the group's solidarity and sense of belonging.
- When clan members worship their totemic animal, they are worshipping society.
- The collective conscious
- Sacred symbols represent collective conscious
- Collective conscious= shared norms, values and beliefs that make social life between others possible.
- Participating in shared rituals bind individuals together and remind people of the power of society.
- Cognitive functions of religions
- Religion is the source of our ability to reason and think at all.
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- The sacred and the profane
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