Synopsis
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life: A Study in Religious Sociology is a seminal work by the French sociologist Emile Durkheim. Originally published in 1912, it is a comprehensive exploration of the nature and function of religion in human society. Durkheim argues that religion is not simply a matter of individual belief or personal spirituality, but rather a social phenomenon that serves to bind individuals together in a shared sense of community and identity.The book is divided into three main sections. In the first section, Durkheim lays out his theory of the sacred and the profane, arguing that religious rituals and beliefs are based on a fundamental distinction between these two categories. The second section focuses on totemism, a form of religious practice found among certain indigenous societies, which Durkheim uses as a case study to illustrate his broader arguments about the nature of religion. Finally, in the third section, Durkheim examines the role of religion in modern industrial society, arguing that while traditional forms of religious practice may have declined, new forms of religion have emerged to take their place.Throughout the book, Durkheim draws on a wide range of anthropological, historical, and philosophical sources to support his arguments. He also engages with the work of other sociologists and thinkers, such as Max Weber and Friedrich Nietzsche, in order to situate his own ideas within the broader intellectual context of his time.Overall, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life is a pioneering work in the field of sociology and a key text in the study of religion. Its insights into the nature and function of religion continue to be influential in contemporary scholarship.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
About the Author
EMILE DURKHEIM (1858-1917) was a French social scientist who organized the emerging branch of sociology and used its analytical methods to explore suicide, societies under strain, religion, the nature of the State, and economic life, among other subjects.
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