50 pages • 1 hour read
Émile DurkheimThe Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | Adult | Published in 1912A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim queries the origins of religion in human society by examining Aboriginal Australian religion. Durkheim explores how social forces in communal settings create a sense of transcendence that humans interpret religiously. He defines religion as a system classifying reality into sacred and profane spheres, emerging primarily from totemism. Note: Durkheim’s language and characterizations of Indigenous cultures can be Eurocentric and lack nuance by modern standards.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Émile Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life is acclaimed for its thorough analysis of religion's social function, utilizing Australian totemism to illustrate broader concepts. While praised for its pioneering sociological approach, some critique its ethnographic accuracy and Eurocentric perspectives. Overall, it remains a seminal work in sociological theory.
Who Should Read The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life?
A reader who enjoys The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim is typically an academic or a student interested in sociology, anthropology, and the study of religion. Comparable to readers of Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism or Clifford Geertz's The Interpretation of Cultures, they appreciate examining the societal role and impact of religious practices.