Question

The Sacred are those things that are revered and viewed as extraordinary while the Profane are identified with the ordinary aspects of life.

With respect to the two concepts highlighted in the above statement, evaluate the relevance of the theory of religion by Durkheim.

Answer 1

Durkheim’s Theory of Religion and the Sacred and the Profane:

1. Durkheim offered the concepts of sacred and profane. These concepts are exclusive of each other. According to him, every society makes a distinction between these two concepts. All positive beliefs are attributed to God and are considered sacred. These beliefs create fear in the minds of people.
2. Profane, on the other hand, are all those things that people use in their everyday lives. It consists of magic and pseudo-science. Magic can also be anti-social. For e.g., Mahalis worship Surji Devi as a joint performance, but each family has its own deity Orak Bonga.
3. His theory focuses on the importance of the collective conscience that can be raised by the sacred. Through celebrations of festivals and rituals, communal ties are strengthened, and solidarity is maintained.
4. The theory also stresses on the functionalist aspect of religion through religious beliefs and rites.
5. Durkheim’s ideas are highly relevant as they help us understand the way religion exists and functions in contemporary societies. All modern societies use the two concepts of sacred and profane to reinforce social order and unity.