Durkheim and Weber
- After reading Durkheim’s functionalist theory, I believe that it is possible religion evolved from the group rituals of totemism practiced by the indigenous tribes in Australia. The practices around totenism closely mirror modern religious practices, theories and doctrines. Totemism, for instance, demonstrated the concept of the profane and the sacred that manifests in many religious doctrines around what is right and what is wrong. Durkheimm writes that “animals other than the totem, which are profane, can ordinarily be killed and eaten by the clan; the totem animal cannot” (Pals 93). This practice was a clear demonstration that the totem animal was holy. Major religions such as Christianity consider certain animals holy and some unholy just like we see in totemism. Durkheim explains that the symbols and model of what is sacred. He states that “the emblem or logo of the totem animal is always extremely important” (Pals 94). Looking at these particular facts about totenism, and how the communities treated the totem animal, it is easy to conclude that religious practices that involve animal sacrifice and use of symbols could have evolved from the tradition of totenism.
- The primary argument in Weber’s theory is that “ideas and values have effects only because certain people embrace them and induce others to follow their lead” (Pals 149). This assumption is very similar to the way religion operates in the United States today. Many people associate with religious groups because they see other, perhaps people they hold in high esteem or admire in some way, embrace the groups. The theory is also relatable to how people convert from one religion to another because other people are already part of that religious identity.
Victor Turner and the Ritual Process
Turner uses Van Gennep’s model to describe rituals of rites of passage that mark transition from one social world to another. The stages are the preliminal stage, the luminal stage and the postliminal state (Herling 78). I can relate these stages to my transition from high school life to college life. The preliminal stage involves the separation from the old stage of life, in my case high school life and all related activity and mindset. At this stage, purification happens. In my case, the purification was by way of an examination that assesses student which is the way to certify that a student qualifies to join college. I sat for my high school examination and passed well, getting accepted to many top universities. The essence of purification in the preliminal stage is that prepared me for the eventual change. The second stage, the luminal stage, is where the actual practices marking transition happen. For me, the first few days of my joining university marked this stage. With the new environment, new people around me, and new expectations, this stage came with radical changes from my old social identity as a high school student to a new identity as a college student. The last stage was the postliminal stage. At this stage, I began to wear my new identity as a college student. My family and friends accepted this new identity and reconciled with the fact that I was now older and more independent. I could now make certain decisions that I initially depended on my parents to make for me, especially on finances and social life. I also accepted the responsibility that came with this new freedom.
Work Cited
Herling, Bradley. A Beginner’s Guide to the Study of Religion. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2016.
Pals, Daniel L. Nine Theories of Religion. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.