Midterm Review Power Point presentations Online at Paper version outside my office – 1131 Social Sciences (copy and return) Review sheet Review session

Today’s Class The Elementary Forms of Religious Life Durkheim wrap-up The Big Three Compared In-Class Writing Film clips & discussion of Schwartz

The Elementary Forms of Religious Life Study of “primitive” religions Totemism (Australian aborigines, some Native American tribes) What is religion? Where does it come from? Common feature: division between sacred and profane

Sacred and Profane Anything can be sacred; varies by religion Mutually exclusive categories, separate and different Sacred is special, profane is everyday Hostile opposition – mingling is repugnant, forbidden

Totemism Totem is sacred Specific animals – various proscriptions and rituals Totem represents the clan

Source of Religion Sense of meanings and forces outside the self Obligations, sense of duty Energy and uplift “Collective effervescence” Society as sui generis

Nature of Religion Religion not mere superstition Religion as collective representation of society Functionalist account: role of rites

Durkheim’s Approach Importance of meaning (“culture”) Importance of emotions “Collective representations” Religion as collective creation Religion as representative of social experience

Durkheim’s Legacy Critiques Neglect of power, conflict, inequality Functionalism oversimplifies and distorts social reality Contributions: founding of sociology; methodology; attention to culture, including emotions

Comparing “The Big Three” History Power Structure/Agency Conflict/Consensus Role of Theory/Sociology “Pet Issues”

In-Class Writing What is Schwartz’s explanation for the intense mourning rites in the wake of Lincoln’s assassination? How does Schwartz’s argument revise Durkheim’s theory of ritual?

Discussion of Schwartz Why reaction to Lincoln’s death requires explanation How Schwartz’s argument relates to Durkheim’s theory of ritual How Schwartz explains the reaction to Kennedy’s death How these arguments might apply to the aftermath of 9/11