The Elementary Forms of Religious Life'If religion generated everything that is essential in society, this is because the idea of society is the soul of religion.' In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912), Émile Durkheim set himself the task of discovering the enduring source of human social identity. He investigated what he considered to be the simplest form of documented religion - totemism among the Aborigines of Australia. Aboriginal religion was an avenue 'to yield an understanding of the religious nature of man, by showing us an essential and permanent aspect of humanity'. The need and capacity of men and women to relate socially lies at the heart of Durkheim's exploration, in which religion embodies the beliefs that shape our moral universe. The Elementary Forms has been applauded and debated by sociologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, philosophers, and theologians, and continues to speak to new generations about the origin and nature of religion and society. This new, lightly abridged edition provides an excellent introduction to Durkheim's ideas. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 3 |
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS | 23 |
ELEMENTARY BELIEFS | 85 |
PRINCIPAL RITUAL CONDUCT | 219 |
CONCLUSION | 310 |
SELECT LIST OF ANTHROPOLOGISTS AND ETHNOLOGISTS WHO INFORMED DURKHEIMS WORK | 344 |
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Common terms and phrases
according ancestor animal aspect attributed Australian authority become beliefs belong body called cause ceremonies character clan closely collective common complete conceived conception consciousness considered course cult death depends distinct divine Durkheim effect elements entirely essential example existence experience explain express external fact faith feelings follow forces function gods human idea ideal imagined important individual influence institution kind least less living magic material means mental merely mind moral Moreover nature notion object observed once organization origin particular person phratry physical plant play possible practices primitive principle profane prohibitions reality reason relations religion religious represent representations respect result rites ritual role sacred seems seen sense separate serve simple social society sometimes sort soul species Spencer spirit symbols things thought tion totem tribes true understand universe whole