Functionality of Religion: Emil Durkheim’s Elementary Forms of Religiou

Emil Durkheim’s Elementary Forms of Religious Life presents religion as a social phenomenon. Based on this idea, this essay will examine the role of religion and its influence on society. Durkheim defined religion as â€Å"a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden -- beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.†1 Hence Durkheim’s emphasis is on the function of religion as a unifier of individuals. In order to illustrate his theory of religion, Durkheim then introduces the Totemism of Australian aborigines as an example of fundamental and primitive religion. He then explains how religious belief and rituals evolve from society. If Durkheim’s theory of religion is valid and if religion is in fact a social phenomenon, it then follows that religion has a function and is thus necessary for society. In other words, society creates religion, and neither can exist without the other. To summarize, religion’s function is to provide a community with a system of communal belief and activities which can be either functional or nonfunctional. A major role of religion in society is to promote social integration by strengthening the bonds between the individual and society. Durkheim emphasizes the communal aspect of religion, explaining how individual humans arrive at a common truth through communal activities. These activities integrate individuals into one single moral community. The individual’s faith is derived from the faith of the community, and the social structure shapes the content of religious beliefs and practices. Moreover, religion brings emotional security to individuals through communal living ... ...eligious Life explains how religious beliefs and practices unite practitioners into a single moral community and how unification is necessary for society. Religion is indeed functional in terms of providing order and a sense of belonging and identity to individuals. Although religion has been used to manipulate people throughout history and has not always affected societies in a positive way, it cannot be denied that it has great power to create in individuals a feeling of acceptance and social coherence. Works Cited Aldridge, Alan. Religion in the Contemporary World. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007. Print. Durkheim, Emile. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. Trans. Joseph W. Swain. 7th ed. London: Novello and Company Limited, 1971. Print. "Totemism." Britannica. Web. 19 Jan. 2010. 600496/totemism>.