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--- 2667:2 [2016/03/06 19:44] – [The study of religion before anthropology] Ryan Schram (admin)
+++ 2667:2 [2021/06/29 02:27] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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 Mills 169 (A69)
-March 9, 2016
+March 15, 2017
 Available at http://anthro.rschram.org/2667/2
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 Unit outline and assignment instructions.
-Durkheim, Emile. 2008 [1912]. “The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life.” In A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion, edited by Michael Lambek, 34–47. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing. (Recommended.)
+Durkheim, Emile. 2008 [1912]. “The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life.” In A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion, edited by Michael Lambek, 34–47. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell Publishing.
 ### Other media ###
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-## A new kind of essay ##
-The University wants undergraduate students (you) to do new and different kinds of work, especially fewer exams, and more projects, both on your own and in groups. What difference do you think this will make? What will it be like for you?
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 ## Durkheim on religion and society ##
-* Religion is essential to any societies. All societies must have a distinction between the 'sacred' and the 'profane'. This is the first social fact.
+* Religion is essential to all societies. Every society must have a distinction between the 'sacred' and the 'profane'. This is the first social fact.
 * Religion as we know it, and many other kinds of social institution, perform this "function" to maintain the distinction between sacred and profane for their societies. Religion is, in essence, an orientation to the sacred as society defines it. Religion is thus also socially functional. It connects people to the social whole. It fosters mechanical solidarity.
 * Durkheim also spoke of "organic solidarity"--or connections to one's society based on specialized roles with the division of labor. All societies have both organic and mechanical solidarity. Religion functions to foster mechanical solidarity and economy functions to foster organic solidarity. We want to focus on mechanical solidarity.
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 Durkheim is best known for his statement that 'Religion is just society worshipping itself'. What does that mean?
-## Durkheim, belief and practice ##
-Sacred things are symbols of society as a whole, something greater than the sum of its parts.
-Sacred rituals and sacred actions, especially group actions, create a heightened feeling. Durkheim calls this effervescence. This effervescence in ritual functions to create mechanical solidarity.
-So it is the patterns of action, especially rituals, which are important to Durkheim. He doesn't dwell on things like faith and emotions. He is interested in the thoughts of the collective mind--social facts.
 ## References ##