SOC103H1 Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Churches and Religion.docx
Document Summary
Emile durkheim was concerned with religions role in promoting social solidarity. Religion has the power to bring people together and reaffirming people"s shared values. Durkheim wonders what would replace religion as source of social solidarity when science displaces religion. Totemism, where an object or place is used to symbolize spirituality. Totems connect people and provide sacred experience in boring world. People have religions because it allows a get-together with unusual and emotional rituals (with assistance from drugs) Karl marx view religion as form of social control and cause of conflict. Religion promotes interests of elites and subdues the masses. Marx also believed religion would lose its importance because of a worldwide revolution of the working class. Max weber argues religions allow people to understand happiness and suffering and provides hope, relief, and motivation. Religion provides way of understanding the world as meaningful. Believes that rise of protestantism led to capitalism.
