Marx Weber and Durkheim on Religion Essays - 1378 Words

A religion can be seen as a unified system of beliefs and practices which are relative to sacred things and beliefs (Giddens 1972, p.224). It can shape ones thoughts and feelings and gives people a sense of hope and something to believe in. All three main sociologist writers Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offer different perspectives on religion and how important it is to society. Some of the theorists chose to have a positive view whilst others argue the unimportance of religion. This essay attempts to discover which theorist has the most accurate perspective of religion in modern times. This is done by firstly explaining the basic ideas regarding to religion put forward by Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Then both Marxs and†¦show more content†¦According to Marx, religion can be seen as the opiate of the people (Engels, Marx 1955, p.41). Here, Marx is suggesting that just like opium, religion is trying to relieve people of the pain and suffering in their lives. Marx als o puts forward the idea that religion is used by its oppressors in order to make people feel better about their lives. Thus, it can be seen that Marx chooses to adopt a negative view of religion. Max Weber can be seen as the only sociologist to place so much scope and emphasis on the subject of religion (Nisbet, p.250). Biographical and textual evidence suggests that biblical religion played a part in shaping and influencing Webers life and the context of his sociology. Webers main concern was to attempt to demonstrate that religious ideologies were not mechanically connected to the economic structure of society, however it does shape individuals behavior and actions in everyday life (Swingewood 1984, p.152). Weber also came to several conclusions regarding the remarkable relationship between capitalism and Protestant. According to Weber, the more capitalism had a free hand to alter social distribution, the larger the relationship between capitalism and protestant (1930, p.4). Overa ll, it can be seen that the three main sociology theorists differ greatly when it comes to ideas regarding to religion.Show MoreRelatedThe Views of Marx Weber, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim on Religion 1475 Words   |  6 PagesMarx Weber, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim Ordinarily, religion is one of the rationales of social orientations, that in one way or another influences the society’s social stability. This is because religion is the impelling force for regulations in the society as well as a destabilizing drive for transformation. Marx Weber together with Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim were very influential personalities in the course of the 19th century, and even now. In one way or another, these persons attempted toRead MoreKarl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offered differing perspectives on the role of religion. Choose the theorist whose insights you prefer and theorists views over the others.991 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim offered differing perspectives on the role of religion. Choose the theorist whose insights you prefer and outline how they perceived religion operating socially. Discuss why you chose your preferred theorists views over the others. Marx, Durkheim and Weber each had different sociological views of the role and function of Religion. My preferred theorists view’s on Religion is Karl Marx’s as I feel his ideas are more relevantRead More Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Sociology Essay1681 Words   |  7 Pagestheoretical works of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber still influence sociological theory. Though their works are decades old they still are a major part of what sociology is today. Though their theories can seem very different, there are some similarities. To become a great sociologist one most learn and understands how to use all sociological perspectives. To do this one must understand and use the different theoretical perspectives created by Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. Karl Marx theoretical perspectiveRead MoreMarx, Emile Durkheim, And Max Weber : The Unjust Theory Of The New World1470 Words   |  6 Pages Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber were all born from a middle-class background in Europe. First Karl Marx was born in (1818-1883), Durkheim (1858-1917), and Max Weber (1864-1920) was close to Durkheim in age, but forty years later after Marx. Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber are the most essential theorist of the nineteenth century whose theories are well known today. Their thinking was based on the rising of the preindustrial, and industrial revolution society. Europe went throughRead MoreComparing and Contrasting Sociological Theorists Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx1599 Words   |  7 PagesEmile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber are all important characters to be studied in the field of Sociology. Each one of these Sociological theorists, help in the separation of Sociology into its own field of study. The works o f these three theorists is very complex and can be considered hard to understand but their intentions were not. They have their similarities along with just as many of their differences. The first theorist to consider is Karl Marx. Marx has a uniqueness all of his ownRead MoreKarl Marx, Emile Durkheim And Max Webers Influence On Religion1727 Words   |  7 PagesThree theorists, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber, are undoubtedly the fathers of modern sociology. â€Å"Nineteenth century Western Europe was pounded by pivotal forces of transformation. Politics, education, religion, communication science, art, and social life were being revolutionized.† (Mohseni 1994;85) Each with distinct views on society and religion, these sociologists are and their theories are significant especially in the field of society. Just as much as they play a major role in theRead MoreMarx, Weber And Durkheim s Views On The Social1385 Words   |  6 Pagesgoing to address three core sociology theorists; Marx, Weber and Durkheim, they all had different opinions about how society functioned through the different types of relationships. Each theorists had a different perspect ive about â€Å"the social† and how that perspective presented it through society. Marx’s view on â€Å"the social† was focused on production relations and how the classes interacted with one another through that type of relationship (Marx 1844). Weber’s view on â€Å"the social† was focusedRead MoreKarl Marx, Max Weber And Emile Durkheim1447 Words   |  6 PagesReligion has been, and forever will be a part of culture and society. Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim are the top three most important figures in sociology; and although each of them viewed religion differently, I strongly believe that they understood its power, and demonstrated its importance to people and societies. As such, I will utilize all three of these great minds, to demonstrate religion as an important and permanent part of culture and society. Let s begin with Karl Marx, andRead MoreMarxist Perspective On Religion And Liberation Theology1199 Words   |  5 Pagesreligious icons and icons of mass consumerism are reinforcing oppressive structures could be viewed as a type of â€Å"methodological atheism†, for Marx fails to acknowledge the significance of transcendence for those practicing religion. In the chapter, â€Å"Sociological Approaches†, Northcott points to the relationship between the Marxist perspective on religion and liberation theology movements in Latin America. Marxist inspired liberation theology acted as a source for power for the poor, as it aidedRead MoreMarx And Weber : Origins And Development Of Capitalism952 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 3 Both Marx and Weber are concerned with the origins and development of capitalism. For Weber, religion, and specifically Protestantism, is a major factor in the development of modern capitalism. For Marx, capitalism is material based it is the result of who owns the means of production. Max Weber believed Protestants compared to Catholics were more likely to hold business occupations based on the observation; that the capitalist structure rose alongside with Protestant reformation. This