# The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life

By Émile Durkheim.

"The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life" by Émile Durkheim is a book published in 1912 that analyzes religion as a social phenomenon. Durkheim argues that religious beliefs emerge from communal living and emotional bonds within society. Through studying totemic societies in Australia, he proposes that sacred symbols actually represent society itself. Durkheim identifies the concept of the sacred as the unifying element across all religions, defining religion as a system of beliefs and practices that unite communities around things set apart as forbidden. (Summary by Project Gutenberg, written by machine.)

- Language: English
- Translator: Joseph Ward Swain
- Subjects: Religion; Rites and ceremonies; Religion -- Philosophy; Cults; Totemism

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[Plain text](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/api/books/gutenberg/41360/text)

## Audiobooks of it

- [Elementary Forms of the Religious Life](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/books/librivox/17103) by Émile Durkheim (19 h 16 min, English)

From Project Gutenberg. Public domain in the United States.