Emile Durkheim Religion

5) To begin with, Emile Durkheim was interested in the studying suicide due to it being a relative concrete and specific phenomenon which possessed good data available. The reason for the study was for him to present an example of his new sociological method (in addition to understanding the particular social problem). Furthermore, the way Durkheim’s sociological theory varied from psychology lies upon the mere fact that psychologists were concerned with studying why a certain individual committed suicide, while Durkheim was interested in explaining suicide rates. In other words, Durkheim was interested in understand why one group had a higher rate of suicide than did another. In addition, Durkheim believed that only social facts could explain

In addition, Durkheim’s sociology of religion consists of an attempt to identify the enduring essence of religion through an analysis of its most primitive forms, while the theory of knowledge made an attempt to connect the fundamental categories of human though to their social origins. More importantly, Durkheim proposed a sociological connection between the two, what essentially was the enduring essence of religion in the setting a part of the sacred from all that is profane. Additionally, the sacred are those aspects of social reality set a part from the everyday, which form the essence of religion (divine). On the other hand, the rest are defined as the profane or the commonplace aspects of life (everyday). Moreover, turning to the divine principle (which is featured in all religions), Durkheim viewed it as something that transcends human beings such as a sense of a powerful spirit such as God. Furthermore, the divine is the outward manifestation of the collective conscience, or in other words, the divine is the outward projection of the society representing its ideals, since it transcends individuals, is experienced as a powerful spirit or external force, and embodies cherished ideals. Likewise, Durkheim observed that religions create collective representations that symbolize and reflect the collective conscience through religious

For instance, considering hockey, or more specific the Stanley Cup playoffs, it too generates a sense of a collective conscience. Asides from the large amounts of individuals watching the games, the Stanley Cup allow them to feel excitement by making each one of them feel a part of something much larger than them. Teams then such as the Vancouver Canucks, are the spirit of this, and their insignia or logo would then be what Durkheim described as the “totem”. Although, the Stanley Cup is referred to as the “holy grail”, it too in Durkheim’s view represents a totem. For instance, the logo represents the “clan” we identify ourselves with, while the Cup signifies the qualities that hockey stands for: competiveness, sportsmanship, excellence, and the values of teamwork. The games themselves are public rituals (such as the arenas) enacted according to strict rules and conventions, which forces us to suspend our everyday lives to watch the ritual unfold. Moreover, the ritual increases our experience of belonging to certain groups, heightening our respect for certain institutions, all while strengthening our belief in certain idea. In addition, these clans, institutions, and ideas all transcend us, thus, depicting the Stanley Cup playoffs as a sacred event in Durkheim’s