About “The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life”
The Elementary Forms of Religious Life by Émile Durkheim, published in 1912, explores religion as a social phenomenon. Durkheim argues that religion arises from the emotional security provided by communal life. His analysis of totemic societies in Australia led him to conclude that the totem animal or plant worshipped by a clan was actually a symbol of the society itself. Midway through the book, Durkheim questions whether the totem represents both the god and the society because, in essence, they are one. The work examines how religious beliefs and practices reflect and reinforce social structures. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Book details
- Published
- 1915