Prelims · 6 Indian Society · 6.6 Religion and secularism

6.6.1 Sociology of religion: Durkheim, Weber, Marx, Tylor, Frazer and Malinowski

Sociologists study religion as a social institution: Durkheim saw it as society worshipping itself, Weber as a force that can shape economic life, Marx as an ideology that consoles the oppressed, and the early anthropologists traced it to animism, magic and the need to cope with anxiety.

  • APPSC Group 2 · Prelims
  • Standard level
  • 9 min read
  • Full course

Key terms

  • sociology of religion
  • Durkheim
  • sacred and profane
  • totemism
  • Arunta
  • church
  • collective effervescence
  • Weber
  • Protestant ethic
  • Calvinism
  • Religion of India
  • Marx
  • opium of the people
  • Tylor
  • animism
  • Marett
  • animatism
  • mana
  • Max Muller
  • naturism
  • Frazer
  • Golden Bough
  • magic
  • Malinowski
  • Trobriand
  • Geertz
  • Berger
  • Bellah
  • Srinivas
  • Sanskritisation
  • Redfield
  • Marriott

What this note covers

  1. Core factsFoundation
  2. ExplainedStandard
  3. DeeperAdvanced
  4. Mains writingMains writing
  5. Common trapsFoundation
  6. Quick revisionFoundation

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