Sociological Theory - Assignment Example

The Religious Life Ethnocentrism The main goal of Durkheim is to explain the most primitive form of religion that man knows. His discovery established outside similarities that were the same to those of historians. Durkheim intentions were both practical and present. He argued that, people entertained primitive religion as the purpose of their research because they thought it was easy to adapt than any other conviction, which led to a better understanding of religion (Durkheim 12). This implied that people saw a vital and stable aspect of humanity.

Durkheim noted how scholars used primitive religions to disrepute modern religion. He rejected this phenomenon because he unveiled that it was not scientific besides interfering with investigations. Additionally, he found the phenomenon devoid of strong sociological ground, since there is no human institution that can rest on a ground comprised of a lie. Enlighten Durkheim insisted that an institution based on the nature of things was bound to fail despite numerous arguments that seemed to support it.

Since, it will encounter a resistance that will destroy it and collapse. This is the reality mainly experienced by primitive religions hence they have to hold realism and express it. Durkheim suggested that various religions that we compare carry elements that are similar (Durkheim 35). He tried to answer nature of religion by use of new sociological means. The ethnographies carried certain meanings that carried religious practices before priests and prophets. Durkheim suggested that primitive religions enjoyed more privileges because their practices and cases were clear.

This is because it helps people to understand nature, hence being able to comprehend its causes. He held descriptions that explained primitive religion in the elementary form that aided him to come up with sociological answers to all philosophical questions.Works CitedDurkheim, Emile. The elementary forms of religious life. New York: oxford University Press, 2001. Print.