Paper Summary:

This paper explores the philosophies of both Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim. It attempts to show how similar the two sociologies are and how the same conclusions were reached despite vastly different approaches to the same problem. The paper further highlights some of the substantial differences between the philosophies. It also offers some insights into religion that both Marx and Durkheim may have overlooked. This paper also briefly explores materialism and functionalism and discusses how they equate to each other. The paper includes an example of an outline at the end.

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Abstract
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From the Paper:

"Marx does not examine the facets of society, but this is because Marx is a materialist. Thus, Marx focused on the material foundation of religion, this being its economic origins. Once these original theoretical differences are overcome, the underlying components can be discussed."
"It is here that Durkheim and Marx are very similar. Both believe religion was created by society. Both believe its purpose is, despite neglecting the aspect of loyalty that I covered, positive in nature. And both believe that the roots of these assumptions are rooted in the examination of primitive societies. Therefore, despite the differences in their respective paradigms, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim's sociologies of religion are very similar."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Durkheim, Emile, and W. S. F Pickering. Durkheim on Religion a Selection of Readings with Bibliographies. Boston: Routledge & K. Paul, 1975
• "Functionalist." Dictionary.Com. 3 Apr. 2002 <http://www.dictionary.com>.
• "Journal of Ritual Studies." 11 Mar. 2002 <http://mysite.verizon.net>.
• Marx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. K. Marx and F. Engels on Religion. Moscow: Progress, 1972.
• Marx, Karl, Freidrich Engels, and Robert C. Tucker, eds. The Marx-Engels Reader. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1978.

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