Durkheim's Theory of Religion: Solidarity, Ritual, and Cognitive Functions
This page delves deeper into Emile Durkheim's theories on religion, focusing on his ideas about solidarity, ritual, and the cognitive functions of religion. These concepts are crucial for understanding the functionalist view on religion and are often featured in AQA A-level Sociology beliefs in society exam questions.
Durkheim emphasizes that religion is not merely about belief but involves ceremonies and rituals that serve to bind society together and enhance group solidarity. He argues that religious ceremonies take people away from the profane aspects of life and into the sacred realm, where they feel connected to higher forces.
Highlight: Durkheim argued that the 'higher forces' people attribute to gods or totems are actually the influence of the collective over the individual.
The text explains how Durkheim views sacred symbols as representations of the collective conscience - shared norms, values, beliefs, and knowledge that make social life and cooperation possible. This idea is central to understanding religion's role in maintaining social cohesion.
Example: Regular religious ceremonies (like Sunday church services) and rituals marking major life transitions (such as christenings or funerals) serve to bind society together.
Durkheim's theory extends to the cognitive functions of religion, particularly in traditional societies. He argues that religion permeates all aspects of life in these cultures, even influencing how people conceive of fundamental concepts like space and time.
Quote: "Religion is the source of all intellectual/cognitive capacities. In order to share our thoughts, we need to use the same categories as others."
The page concludes by introducing Durkheim and Mauss' argument that religion provides the basic categories necessary for communication and reasoning, such as time, space, and causation. This perspective positions religion as the origin of human thought itself, highlighting its profound influence on social and cognitive structures.
Definition: Cognitive functions of religion refer to how religious beliefs and practices shape fundamental categories of thought and perception in society.
This comprehensive exploration of Durkheim's theories provides valuable insights for students studying AQA Sociology Beliefs in society revision notes and preparing for exams on the sociology of religion.
