Religion's Effects

Great Point, Weijia! It's apparent that religion could be restrictions on people life especially women's life. I really like your example of a Muslim women. Religion could certain become guidance for people's morality. Although I am somewhat confused whether Durkheim's idea of "religion" could directly refer to contemporary religion.Personally, I think there are certain common moral principles, instead of religion to guide people from even different societies, such as "killing for fun is not permitted or sinful". I don't really think this kind of common principles come from any particular religious regulations (correct me if I am wrong, since I might not have enough knowledge for every religion).

I agree Bo, there are definitely common principles between Durkheim's idea of religion, and contemporary religion. Especially in the fact that for some it shapes our thought and language, thus the expression of one's collective consciousness. We all have an collective idealized reality and can use religion in helping to attain the ideal. This somewhat reminds me of Freud's theory of how attaining self-actualization was the great conquest of life. Durkheim also states that that there is no overlapping between categories between different groups, which I think is a bit overreaching on his parts. For example, all religions have placed value upon a sacred object, which at one point was just an object. They make have different names for the same object, but it is regarded in the same way.