6.8 The Social Functions of Religion

Summary

This transcript discusses Emile Durkheim's views on religion as a societal phenomenon. It highlights how religious objects and rituals create a sense of collective effervescence, fostering social unity and cohesion. Durkheim, a functionalist, saw religion as essential for social regulation and countering egoism. Despite secularization, he believed new institutions could replace religion's functions, such as nationalism or large-scale events, suggesting a shift in how societies experience collective unity.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Religious objects impress believers because they seem to emanate a power that Durkheim attributes to society.
• 🎉 Collective effervescence, a state of euphoria or ecstasy, is produced during religious gatherings, reinforcing social unity.
• 🔍 Durkheim was a functionalist thinker who analyzed the sociological functions that phenomena like religion fulfilled for society.
• 🧩 Religion serves to repair social ties and contribute to social cohesion within the larger social system.
• 🔬 Durkheim's functionalist analysis was systematic and programmatic, distinguishing it from mere cause and effect relationships.
• 🌐 As religion's importance wanes with secularization, modern social sciences have taken over some of its cognitive functions.
• 📚 Sociology provides a clearer and more critically discussable image of society compared to religious imagery.
• 🏛️ New institutions and belief systems may arise to fulfill the functions traditionally served by religion, such as nationalism.
• 🏟️ Large-scale events like national celebrations or sports matches can evoke a sense of collective unity akin to religious experiences.
• 🌐 Durkheim suggests that even non-religious phenomena like global consumer culture can elicit semi-religious feelings of solidarity.

Q & A

What is the primary reason religious objects are impressive to believers according to Durkheim?

Religious objects are impressive to believers because they appear to emanate a power that Durkheim believes can only be the power of society.

How does Durkheim describe the production of collective power during religious meetings?

Durkheim describes the production of collective power as occurring when people are gathered together, possibly dancing or singing, and collectively reach a state of euphoria or ecstasy, which he calls 'collective effervescence.'

What is the significance of the state of collective effervescence in Durkheim's view?

The state of collective effervescence is significant because it is the moment when the feeling of social unity is created and reinforced.

How does Durkheim's functionalist perspective view the role of religion in society?

Durkheim, as a functionalist thinker, views religion as not only a product of society but also as fulfilling important functions for society, such as contributing to social cohesion and supporting social regulation.

What is one of the sociological functions of religion that Durkheim identifies?

One of the sociological functions of religion identified by Durkheim is to repair the ties between people when they have been harmed, such as in mourning rituals.

What problem does Durkheim confront in relation to the process of secularization?

Durkheim confronts the problem of secularization, which he himself experienced as a son of a rabbi who became an agnostic professor of sociology.

How does Durkheim suggest modern societies might replace the sociological functions of traditional religion?

Durkheim suggests that modern societies might develop new institutions and belief systems, such as nationalism or large-scale events, that can fulfill the functions traditionally fulfilled by religion.

What does Durkheim say about the potential immortality of the gospels?

Durkheim states that the gospels are not immortal and that mankind will always create new ones, implying that religious and societal structures will evolve over time.

What examples does Durkheim provide to illustrate the replacement of religious functions in modern society?

Durkheim provides examples such as nationalistic gatherings, like the French celebrating Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity on the 14th of July, or Americans on Independence Day.

How do large pop concerts and international soccer matches relate to religious functions according to the script?

The script suggests that large pop concerts, rock concerts, and international soccer matches can also fulfill religious functions by providing a deep feeling of unity with everyone present.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Religion's Social Function and Collective Effervescence

This paragraph discusses the sociological perspective on religion, particularly focusing on the work of Émile Durkheim. It explains how religious objects hold power for believers, which Durkheim suggests is a reflection of society's power. The concept of collective effervescence is introduced, describing how groups can reach a state of euphoria during religious gatherings, thereby reinforcing social unity. Durkheim is noted as a functionalist who analyzed the functions religion serves for society, such as social cohesion and regulation. He also observed the process of secularization and pondered the future of religion's role in society. The paragraph concludes by suggesting that new institutions and belief systems may arise to fulfill the functions traditionally served by religion.

05:01

🎤 Modern Rituals and the Search for Collective Unity

The second paragraph extends the discussion on the functions of religion to modern contexts, suggesting that large-scale events like pop concerts and international soccer matches may serve similar purposes as religious gatherings. These events are said to evoke a sense of collective unity and effervescence among participants. The author also touches on the idea of consumerism, where the release of a new product can create a semi-religious feeling of global solidarity. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging Durkheim's contributions to understanding the sacred and profane, and how his work provides a theoretical framework for comprehending contemporary societies.

Keywords

💡Religious objects

Religious objects are items that hold significance in various religious practices, often believed to possess a power that emanates from the collective belief of the society. In the video, the power of these objects is discussed as a symbol of societal strength, where their impressive nature is tied to the collective faith of believers.

💡Collective effervescence

Collective effervescence refers to the heightened emotional state experienced by a group of people when they come together for a shared religious or social experience. The video describes this as a moment of euphoria or ecstasy that reinforces social unity, often occurring during religious gatherings where people sing or dance together.

💡Social cohesion

Social cohesion is the bonding and connectedness within a community, society, or group. The video emphasizes how religious rituals can strengthen social cohesion by repairing social ties, especially during mourning rituals, where relationships are reconnected after a loss.

💡Functionalist thinkers

Functionalist thinkers, like Durkheim, focus on the functions that social phenomena serve within a society. The video mentions Durkheim as a pioneer in functionalist analysis, who believed that religion fulfills essential functions for society, such as contributing to social cohesion.

💡Secularization

Secularization is the process by which society becomes less religious or removes religious influences. The video discusses Durkheim's observation of secularization and its implications for the role of religion in society, suggesting that modern social sciences may be taking over some of the cognitive functions previously fulfilled by religion.

💡Social regulation

Social regulation refers to the mechanisms that maintain order and control within a society. Religion, as discussed in the video, plays a role in social regulation by providing a moral framework and a set of rules that guide behavior.

💡Egoism and anomie

Egoism is the self-centered pursuit of one's own interests, while anomie is a sense of social instability and lack of purpose. The video suggests that religion acts as an antidote to these negative tendencies, which can contribute to rising suicide figures.

💡Nationalistic gatherings

Nationalistic gatherings are events that celebrate national identity and shared moral principles. The video draws a parallel between religious functions and the collective experiences during nationalistic celebrations, such as the French celebrating Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity on July 14th.

💡Global solidarity

Global solidarity is a sense of unity and common purpose among people across national borders. The video suggests that experiences like attending large pop concerts or international soccer matches can evoke feelings of global solidarity, similar to the collective effervescence experienced in religious gatherings.

💡The sacred and the profane

The sacred and the profane are contrasting concepts where the sacred refers to what is considered holy or central to religious worship, while the profane is mundane or secular. The video discusses Durkheim's work on these concepts and how they relate to the functions of religion in society.

💡Durkheim

Durkheim, or Émile Durkheim, was a French sociologist who is a central figure in the video. His theories on religion, social cohesion, and functionalism are discussed extensively, highlighting his influence on sociological thought and the understanding of societal functions.

Highlights

Religious objects impress believers by seemingly emanating a power that Durkheim associates with societal power.

Collective effervescence, a state of euphoria or ecstasy, is produced during religious gatherings, reinforcing social unity.

Religion fulfills sociological functions for society, such as contributing to social cohesion.

Durkheim was a pioneer in functionalist thinking, analyzing how phenomena serve societal functions.

Religion repairs social ties, exemplified by mourning rituals that restore social relationships.

Durkheim's functionalist analysis is systematic and programmatic in the science of sociology.

Religion strengthens social cohesion, supports social regulation, and counters egoism and anomie.

Durkheim observed the process of secularization and its impact on the importance of religion in society.

Modern social sciences have taken over some cognitive functions previously fulfilled by religion.

Durkheim suggests new institutions and belief systems may emerge to fulfill traditional religious functions.

Nationalistic gatherings can serve as a modern form of collective effervescence, similar to religious functions.

The concept of the flag as sacred, akin to religious symbols, demonstrates the emotional power of nationalism.

Large pop concerts and international soccer matches may fulfill religious functions by creating a sense of unity.

Durkheim's theories provide a theoretical framework for understanding the role of religion in society.

The emotional aspects of religion, such as its strengthening power and social cohesion functions, are still relevant.

Durkheim's work on religious life offers insights into the sacred and profane, and the importance of collective experiences.

The concept of global solidarity, as seen in consumer behaviors, may have semi-religious feelings transcending national borders.

Transcripts

religious objects are so impressive for

the believer because they appear to

eminate a power that according to durm

cannot be anything else than the power

of

society we can observe how such a power

is produced during religious meetings

here people are gathered they are close

to each other they may dance or sing

together and then all of a sudden

something spectacular may happen they

may collectively reach a state of

euphoria a kind of ecstasy or Rapture

that he calls a state of effes

collective Collective eff foressence

they feel

uplifted and that is the moment when the

feeling of social Unity is created and

reinforced and it is no accident that

this can only happen in a collective

ritual that is the outcome of

accumulated group

energy religion is not only a product of

society it also fulfills functions for

society durm was one of the first

thoroughly functionalist thinkers a man

who always tried to discern what

sociological functions certain

phenomenon fulfilled for example in

contributing to the social cohesion of

the larger social system he stressed

that this search for functions is

completely different from the search for

cause and effect

relations we already saw that con was a

precursor of functionalist thinking but

durm was the man who used functionalist

analysis in a more systematic way and

who programmatic wrote about this way of

reasoning in the science of

Sociology one of the many functions of

religion is to repair the ties between

people when they have been harmed for

example in mourning rituals the networks

of social relationships between people

that have suffered from the passing away

of one of them are glued together again

in this way and in many other ways

religion has important functions to

fulfill it strengthens social cohesion

it supports social regulation it is a

powerful antidote to egoism and anomi

those negative Tendencies behind the

rising suicide

figures but here durm is confronted with

a

problem he also witnessed the Advent of

a process of

secularization he himself the son of a

rabbi who became an agnostic professor

of sociology was living proof of this

process so where are we heading if

religion becomes less important under

conditions of

modernity when it comes to religion as a

source of sociological orientation you

could say that the modern social

sciences have adopted some of the

cognitive functions that in the past

were fulfilled by religion they now help

us to understand our place in

society well the image of society in

religious imagery is still blurred and

vague in sociology it has become not

only clearer but also easier to

criticize and discuss without having to

fear the risk of being treated as a

heretic but what about the more

emotional aspects of religion what about

its strengthening power what about its

functions as a source of social

cohesion here durkheim says something

very interesting the gospels he says are

not Immortal and Mankind will always

ride new

ones we may develop completely new

institutions and belief systems that

fulfill the functions that traditional

religions fulfilled in the past durm

even mentions nationalistic Gatherings

of citizens who celebrate a membership

of their beloved nation and to the moral

principles that they all share

the reader here is reminded of the

French when they celebrate Liberty

equality and fraternity on the 14th of

July or you may be reminded of Americans

on Independence

Day and the example that I just gave of

the outrage that a nationalist person

may experience when she must watch the

burning of the national flag that

example was in fact not taken from the

world of religion but from the world of

nationalism and it makes clear that a

flag can be seen as just as sacred as a

cross sometimes my students tell me that

they believe that large pop concerts

rock concerts international soccer

matches also fulfill religious functions

and when I speak about effes Collective

they tell me that moving with hundreds

of people on the repetitive beats of

electronic dance music may have that

very same effect attended by a deep

feeling of unity with everybody present

and when a large company announces the

appearance for example of a new cell

phone and we feel at one with people all

over the world who stand in long lines

to buy that elegant small computer we

also may experience a kind of semi-

religious feeling that transcends

National borders a kind of global

solidarity

DM's book on religious life all those

arguments about the sacred and the

profane about effervescence about the

functions of religion still offers us

today a very impressive theoretical

framework that can help us to understand

our own societies and for that we should

thank the son of the rabbi