Durkheim: Sociology of Religion

Question 1

What is the main idea of moral order?

Answer 1

Freedom and Liberation

Question 2

What does Durkheim believe egoistc behavior results in?

Answer 2

Too much freedom and thus anomie because they are chained to their desires.

Question 3

What is an embodiment of morality?

Answer 3

social institutions, especially religion

Question 4

What is Durkheim’s stance about morality in society?

Answer 4

He believes that morality is the basis of social unity

Question 5

Why might being religious relate to people being able to think abstractly?

Answer 5

All or most religions entail a conception of the divine/spirit/God, which all cannot be observed.

Question 6

What are the two basic ideas behind the sociological study of religion?

Answer 6

1.) The distinction between the sacred and the profane
2.) How they are related to one another

Question 7

What are the minimum concepts you need to understand in order to understand a religion?

Answer 7

1.) The feelings, acts, and experiences of individuals
2.) How individuals understand themselves in relation to whatever they consider divine

Question 8

What is the concept of divine associated with?

Answer 8

Morality

Question 9

What is the definition of religion?

Answer 9

The totality of beliefs and practices concerned with regard to the sacred

Question 10

What is Durkheim’s definition of church?

Answer 10

A moral community formed by all the believers in a single faith

Question 11

What is Durkheim’s definition of religion?

Answer 11

It is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things that unite all those who adhere to these beliefs and practices into a church.

Question 12

What is the definition of a clan?

Answer 12

A community whose members consider themselves to be descended from a common ancestor

Question 13

What is the definition of a totem?

Answer 13

A physical object (typically observable in nature) with a name that represents the identity of the clan

Question 14

What could be an example of “an identity of the clan”?

Answer 14

Deer, Bear, or antelope

Question 15

Define a totemic system.

Answer 15

A totemic system consists of totemic symbols that reflect differences that originate in nature. Their totems differentiate the clans from other clans.

Question 16

How do members of totemic groups resemble one another?

Answer 16

They resemble one another in terms of their orientation to both the social and divine spheres

Question 17

What is the definition of churinga?

Answer 17

It is a physical object employed in religious ceremonies and is believed to have extraordinary properties.

Question 18

What is the difference between totem and churinga?

Answer 18

A totem is an object that represents a society or clan. A churinga is an object that has impersonal power or force that is inherent in the universe.

Question 19

How does a totem become a churinga?

Answer 19

A totem becomes a churinga when people start believing that it has supernatural powers and believe that it has become a supernatural element.

Question 20

What can Durkheim conclude about society and religion?

Answer 20

There are strong parallels between society and religion and society has the attributes necessary to form a sense of the divine, in other words religion emerges from society itself.

Question 21

What are the qualities that society and religion share?

Answer 21

Everyone depends on it and members submit to authority even if they feel that it is repressive.

Question 22

What is a key concept relating to how the totem transforms into a churinga?

Answer 22

Collective effervescence

Question 23

What are some examples of rituals leading to collective effervescence?

Answer 23

Celebrating rituals for days, prolonged dancing, ingesting alcohol or smoking to be in a different state of consciousness

Question 24

What is the manifest function in relation to rituals?

Answer 24

It is when rituals encourage the divine to do something that is good for society. Examples include successful harvests, success in battle, and/or fertility.

Question 25

What is the latent function in relation to rituals?

Answer 25

When rituals unify members of society into a community church by reminding them of the core attributes of the group. Overtime all members adhere to a single set of beliefs.

Question 26

What is the definition of collective effervescence?

Answer 26

When the members of the clan experience emotional excitation during rituals.

Question 27

What are the criticisms of Durkheim’s conception of religion?

Answer 27

1.) Durkheim basis his theory on the behavior of the collective not the individual.
2.) Collective effervescence occurs in secular settings that generate no religious experience.
3.) Over reliance on sacred to explain events.
4.) Durkheim does not address the subjective meaning of religion.

Question 28

What does it mean when Durkheim doesn’t address the subjective meaning of religion?

Answer 28

He does not explain how religion affect meaning and motives of action in the secular world.

Question 29

Why is over reliance on sacred to explain events a problem?

Answer 29

Because mechanical societies are known to employ knowledge from both sacred and profane spheres to understand events.

Question 30

In Durkheim’s theory, what is society defined as?

Answer 30

It refers to group or collective life where the group influences individuals who are members.

Question 31

What are sui generis properties and how do they relate to social reality?

Answer 31

They are properties that cannot be reduced to or understood in terms of any other simpler reality (biology, psychology)

Question 32

What is the relationship between social context and social behavior?

Answer 32

Social context affects social behavior

Question 33

What is the definition of collective representations?

Answer 33

Shared social conceptions like norms, roles, values, or religious beliefs

Question 34

What are the characteristics of collective consciousness?

Answer 34

It preexists and outlives individuals; it is felt as an external power; and is capable of both shaping and constraining social action

Question 35

How does Durkheim think we should study society?

Answer 35

We should study society as a group phenomena (its roles, norms, and social institutions) and not by examining individual’s characteristics.

Question 36

What are two types of behaviors that affect individuals?

Answer 36

Egoistic behavior (individual) and Altruistic behavior (social)

Question 37

What is an example of altruistic behavior?

Answer 37

The idea that we as members of society have a responsibility to the poor

Question 38

What is an example of egoistic behavior?

Answer 38

The idea that individuals only have responsibility to advance their self interest