Durkheim Essay Topics - Religion and Society

Durkheim Essay Topics - Religion and SocietyAs a Ph.D. candidate in sociology, I am working on more Durkheim essays, specifically on essay topics in social and religious life. The dissertation should be informed by sociological theories and data from the discipline. However, there are certain aspects of sociological theory that are not fully understood. In this article, I will discuss Durkheim's religious ideas, the impact of religion on society, and what kinds of essay topics would be appropriate to pursue when writing dissertation.Durkheim developed a form of sociology that is called, 'organic sociology.' In organic sociology, sociology should 'contain a series of categories of interests, concerned with a particular entity, whose properties or phenomena should be studied as such and not from the standpoint of an arrangement of its members or behavior.' These categories of interest include culture, time, identity, and religious conceptions. I would like to illustrate this concept wi th a Durkheim essay topic about themes in religious life. It is important for my essay topics to be rooted in empirical evidence, but it is also important to show how the religious themes in social and religious life are also related to broader sociological theories.Durkheim believed that religion was the aspect of social and religious life that was often neglected or misinterpreted by sociologists. He argued that religion is not only a matter of personality, but is also a part of an impersonal system that creates a deep sense of order and sanctity in society. Religion is viewed through the lens of everyday experience in which ritual functions as a 'protractor' for conformity. Durkheim believed that this 'protractor' serves as a fundamental norm of social and religious life.In addition to offering a different and yet equally valid perspective on social and religious life, Durkheim's 'organic' sociological theory also included a different idea about religion. Accordingto Durkheim, re ligion is not simply about conformity, but instead religion involves a particular form of community that is unique to each person. 'Identity formation' involved in forming one's own distinct community is part of the nature of religion.Durkheim also argued that while people participate in common practices, religions do not provide shared rites. 'Identity formation' occurs through individual experiences of normativity and obligations. These obligations are met through a community of sharing and obligation.In addition to drawing on Durkheim's personal observations, it is important to also analyze his broader sociological theories to see how religion can impact our everyday lives. According to Durkheim, religion brings order to our lives. Through religion, we are able to identify our place in the world.Lastly, Durkheim also wrote that religion helps resolve conflict. This is a result of religion's need to create and maintain order in a world filled with irrational forces. Religion needs to resolve conflicts to function as a communal force. Since religion is linked to a more impersonal form of social life, it may resolve the conflict more effectively.One of the most important aspects of Durkheim essay topics is to analyze the importance of religion in modern society. Religion in our society has a variety of dimensions. It is also crucial for all graduate students, who are not necessarily trained in sociology, to understand what Durkheim had to say about religion and societies.