SOC201H1 Lecture Notes - Alexis De Tocqueville
Document Summary
Durkheim on religion: the main question: why is this fiction so powerful, basic categories: sacred and profane definition of what all religions have in common. Religion divides the world into two categories: sacred and profane. Sacred is seen as having a special power and treated with awe and respect. Profane consist of the rest of the world. What makes things sacred is our attitude towards them. Focuses of aboriginals because they live in a simple society. Society has a great deal of power over us because it gives us so much. Power of sacred comes from our experience of something outsides ourselves which is greater than ourselves. Can give us strength to give us belief. Durkheim believes where you have society you have religion. Max weber - magic becomes smaller and smaller and science increases. Both are dividing the world into two spheres. Durkheim does not see a decline of religious belief.
