Lec 30: Religion and Society | Emile Durkheim

In this lecture, we will study about:
1. Emile Durkheim's functional interpretation of Religion.
2. Emile Durkheim in his 1912 book "Elementary forms of Religious society" argues that religion is nothing but the worship of society.
3. Emile Durkheim argues that Totemism is the most basic form of Religion and he rejects Edward Tylor's theory of Animism and Max Mueller's argument that Naturism signifies the origin of religion.
4. Emile Durkheim's Religion theory is based on ethanographic research and study of Arunta Tribe of Australia by Baldwin Spencer and Gillen.
5. Emile Durkheim also talks about Civil Religion in Modern France woven by the spirit of Nationalism.
6. Durkheim argues that Totem is a collective representation.
7. Emile Durkheim differentiates between the sacred and profane while talking about Religion and Totemism.

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