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18th out of 117 books
—
49 voters
The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912), Emile Durkheim sets himself the task of discovering the enduring source of human social identity. He investigates what he considered to be the simplest form of documented religion - totemism among the Aborigines of Australia. For Durkheim, studying Aboriginal religion was a way 'to yield an understanding of the religious na...more
Paperback, Abridged, 416 pages
Published
June 21st 2001
by Oxford University Press, USA
(first published 1912)
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Karen Fields is pretty excited about translating this work anew, and gives ED a very diplomatic reading in her translator's introduction.
One thing she drops is the article 'the' in translating the French 'la' in the title. What ED thinks he is delineating are the elementary (basic, simple, mythologically privileged, evolutionarily prior, methodological starting-point) forms of religion, which everyone has (not something, as Tylor-Frazer might have, that a people 'evolves' into after 'magic' stag...more
One thing she drops is the article 'the' in translating the French 'la' in the title. What ED thinks he is delineating are the elementary (basic, simple, mythologically privileged, evolutionarily prior, methodological starting-point) forms of religion, which everyone has (not something, as Tylor-Frazer might have, that a people 'evolves' into after 'magic' stag...more
This book attempts to examine the religious forms and functions in what he believed to the simplest religion in the world: Totemism of the Austrialian Aboriginal Tribes. His goal was to clearly define what religion was, and was not, and attempt to formulate its role in the society, as a way to maybe create a hypothesis about the more 'complex' religions.
Though many very interesting things where said about the structure of society and the development of knowledge and religion - one aspect of thi...more
Though many very interesting things where said about the structure of society and the development of knowledge and religion - one aspect of thi...more
To give one of the founders of my new discipline some credit, I can't imagine it was fun and games trying to provide a sociological theory of religion and a religious theory of society 100 years ago.
But, while I think some parts of the reasoning are sound, most of the facts upon which he bases his arguments are historically and archaeologically invalid, not to mention racist and sexist. If Durkheim had access to all of our current knowledge of the era circa 10,000-15,000 BC in the Near East, hi...more
But, while I think some parts of the reasoning are sound, most of the facts upon which he bases his arguments are historically and archaeologically invalid, not to mention racist and sexist. If Durkheim had access to all of our current knowledge of the era circa 10,000-15,000 BC in the Near East, hi...more
OK, I recognize that it's a classic of sociology, but Durkheim's methodology is wrong. It's not a method I disagree with, not a method I consider to be flawed, but just straight up wrong in more ways than I can count. What we get is a text that, despite its search for universality, is almost comically out of date. No wonder no one reads it anymore. Like Eliade, he searches for religious meaning through primitive (read: Westerners think it's a "timeless" culture) religious ritual, and thinks that...more
Durkheim is hella smart. You can tell by the front cover. Just check out the sweet dome on that guy.
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After being beaten mercilessly with this work by a professor in three separate classes, it became apparent that there was no way around Durkheim. I can safely say that I see the world in terms of witchetty grubs. Durkheim's ability to grant insight into a culture that he never actually experienced (indeed, he never set foot in Australia...) is very flawed, yet the principles of this work are what have allowed the feilds of Religious Studies and Sociology to blossom. A work worth drudging through...more
اين كه توليد مفهوم خدا در ذهن بشر برآمده از تأثيرات جامعه بر آن است، حرف بسيار عجيب و جالبي بود. اين كتاب را مي توان خواند، و مي توان در آن غرق شد. شايد كمرنگ ترين مضمون اين كتاب، پاسخ به اين سوال باشد: "جامعه چيست، و چرا شناختن آن علم است". دارم فكر مي كنم كه چگونه ذهن تحليل گر انسان مي تواند به اين جايي كه ذهن اميل دوركيم رسيده، برسد
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1983853.html[return][return][return]I should stop readng the classic works on religion and culture, because I always end up disappointed. In this classic anthropological analysis from the first years of the twentieth century, Durkheim generalises from studies of the totem cults of Australia to conclude that pretty much all intellectual concepts, including scientific theories as well as notions of God and religion, can be examined as socially constructed phenomena. W...more
Jan 16, 2010
Matt Westbrook
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sociology-of-religion-classics
Durkheim's contribution to sociology was immense. He is considered a founder not just because of his voluminous and unique contribution but because he actively sought to "create" the discipline of sociology by delineating its object of study: society as a thing in itself and not just an aggregate of individual consciousnesses. Yet he still retained a unique emphasis on consciousness that would allow him to define sociology as "collective psychology". His particular emphasis within the discipline...more
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I can see how this was foundational, but Durkheim is a terrible writer. I'm not going to start in on his claims (their lack of foundation; the problems with, in my view, a universalist view of religion in general), except to say that if you're planning on reading this whole book to understand his ideas, do yourself a favor and read the introduction and the conclusion. A brief review of Emile's thinking on religious life by a scholar in the field will do you more good than slogging through this....more
READ MAR 2010
Exhaustive treatment of the foundation of religious forms and practices. Not an easy read, but interesting. Best quote, "Really and truly human thought is not a primitive fact; it is the product of history; it is the ideal limit towards which we are constantly approaching, but which in all probability we shall never succeed in reaching" (p. 493).
Exhaustive treatment of the foundation of religious forms and practices. Not an easy read, but interesting. Best quote, "Really and truly human thought is not a primitive fact; it is the product of history; it is the ideal limit towards which we are constantly approaching, but which in all probability we shall never succeed in reaching" (p. 493).
This book put so many pieces together for me and helped me make sense of life on a pretty personal level. The ideas he puts forth play a significant role in my general philosophy now, and I continue to think about this book in daily life years after reading it. I love Durkheim for this book, even with all its methodological flaws.
Jan 26, 2008
Emma
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who can tolerate a little dead white men theory to connect the dots
Dude, I freaking love Durkheim. Even though he's one of those armchair theorist types, he does it so brilliantly, I have trouble faulting him. Sure, his going back to a so-called primitive culture in Australia he's never encountered is uber-problematic. But he studies religious life as a social phenomenon and comes up with amazing insights about religion and culture and politics and that odd intersection where they all converge that still seem fresh nearly a century later.
From what I remember, m...more
From what I remember, m...more
I'm fascinated by religion and its composition as a social structure, but I also identify as Christian. I appreciated that Durkheim was also religious and approached the subject in a scholarly way while still giving faith its due credit by emphasizing the difference between religion and faith.
This book was very convoluted, and of course built off of a basis of examining the religions of "primitive" cultures. Totemism makes some sense, sometimes, but not in the ways he intends and I just overall disagree and didn't find the read very useful. Oh, this was for Theory of Religion.
Critically important book in the history of sociology and religious studies. Sure, there are lots of errors and misconceptions to critique, but it is mind boggling to think of the innovations Durkheim introduced into thinking about social interactions in a religious context.
very interesting book...in the book he essentially uses a case study of an aboriginal tribe in the Australia area to identify the core components of religion and establish some principles for the "scientific" positivist study of religion...
Jul 30, 2011
Jayw
added it
Pioneer in sociology and in social sciences in general, strives to understand the roots of religion in this work published in 1912.
Durkheim, defines religion distinguishes it from magic, etc. determines that best wa
Durkheim, defines religion distinguishes it from magic, etc. determines that best wa
I thought I'd never finish this (it took about a year from when I began reading it). I thoroughly enjoyed his logical presentation religion (or any other social group) via a rigorous scientific standpoint.
I just love how all Durkheim can be applied to everything ever ever. Ok exaggeration. But really, how does his theory on totemism NOT apply to modern society in so many more ways than just religion...
If you want to understand Religion in society, you should read this book.
I wish that every divinity student --no matter their tradition-- had to read this cover to cover.
I wish that every divinity student --no matter their tradition-- had to read this cover to cover.
Emile Durkheim was basically gifted in understanding the cause of an event not basically putting it on the individual but first trying to understand why and how society affects it
Overall, Durkheim's whole noble savage thing got on my nerves, but I can't deny how intricately synthesized his whole argument is. You get an A+ for effort, Emile!
Hahah, yes, I'm adding a book I had to read from soc. I was just thinking about it recently when I was discussing with someone how "Anthropology" seems to be the study of brown people while "Sociology" is the study of white people. (think about it...)
I have to admit that I was offended by Durkheims evaluations and theories about "elementary" forms of religion based on aboriginal and Native American cultures. Maybe I'm just too sensitive to issues of race and ethnicity. ps. Durkheim never actual...more
I have to admit that I was offended by Durkheims evaluations and theories about "elementary" forms of religion based on aboriginal and Native American cultures. Maybe I'm just too sensitive to issues of race and ethnicity. ps. Durkheim never actual...more
A seminal work in the study of religion; a must-read for students of religion.
Feb 23, 2013
Isabella
added it
I read the Karen Fields edition
Not Durkheim's best work.
My anthropology pal told me about this book after I read Eliade and I am so glad he did. I understand Durkheim's position as an armchair anthropologist and why certain people are critical of him, but he is able to get necessary distance and observation over massive forms within all religious life. It is very focused as far as the examples are concerned yet broad when you realize you are identifying a mass of Protestant beliefs and forms in religious life. Thanks for the suggestion!
A seemingly obscure work that contains some important insights into the nature of religion and, surprisingly, knowledge. Dust off the cover and have a look.
Nov 07, 2009
Maughn Gregory
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
religion-about-for-and-against,
philosophy
I learned so much from this 1912 classic sociological treatment of religion; as the excellent introduction explains, some of the data Durkheim used - about Australian totemism - is no longer considered reliable, but his analysis of the nature and the meaning of religious belief and practice is still illuminating.
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Much of Durkheim's work was concerned with how societies could maintain their integrity and coherence in modernity; an era in which traditional social and religious ties are no longer assumed, and in which new social institutions have come into being. His first major sociological work was The Division of Labor in Society (1893). In 1895, he published his Rules of the Sociological Method and set up...more
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Apr 02, 2008 11:00pm