Durkheim considered religion to be a social force. Durkheim was keen on the functionalism role of religion in society, which meant that religion only existed to fulfill certain controlling roles of society on individuals. He saw religion as one of the functions of society, which only existed to act as a social cohesive, a binder that sets people together with similar beliefs and values. To illustrate this, he revealed the religious classification of behaviors and human thoughts, which are, the sacred; which involves other people, values, and motivation in people’s decisions, and the profane; which is behavior with private ends without considering others or values.
Durkheim suggested the possibility that rather than adherence to God, most people were conforming to practices of the religion. This reductionist perspective explained why most people were comfortable staying in a religion where they never really interacted with the divine personalities although they lived up to the morals and dictates of the religion. Consequently, this meant that with progress in independence and with the integration of more logic and scientific facts in people’s lives, then the influence of religion would be diminished. This phenomenon, called modernity, meant that people could, in the future, be driven by scientific and technological advancements rather than by replicating traditions.
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Response
The comment is detailed in its explanation of the misinterpretation of religion itself and the deity, or God, in most religions. The author keenly explains how society and God are really the same essence when viewed from this light, since people conform only to religion as a social force, a construct of society that dictates how people are supposed to act and behave. However, the author fails to highlight the dichotomous nature of the sanctity and the profane, which is key in Durkheim’s dissection in the role of religion in society. The paper is nonetheless very informative on people’s interaction with religion and the role of God in society and individuals.
