Abstract
Religion plays a key role in the works of both Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx and a close look at their respective views on religion are therefore very important. With that in mind, this paper argues that, while both Durkheim and Marx are not strong advocates of religion, Marx is especially sharp in his denunciation. In particular, whereas Durkheim does see some salutary effects associated with religious practice - such as the promotion of social solidarity as well as a collective moral code - Marx views religion as being basically an appendage of the capitalist establishment. More than that, Marx's vision of both religion and of capitalism is so unflattering that he compares the former to an ancient Near Eastern religious sect which favored the sacrifice of children to an obscure deity.

Tags:religion, marx, durkheim

Abstract
The paper looks at magic and religion in Roman Egypt. In general, the paper explores religion in Roman Egypt. It looks at how Rome was a multi-religious empire and the Egyptians tended to use a lot of magic in religion. The paper explains how Christianity combined with the Egyptian religion to create the Coptic religion.

From the Paper
"The Roman Empire was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world. According to Chris Brazier in "The No-Nonsense Guide to World History," "From about 275 BC to 50 AD Rome created a massive empire that included the Mediterranean region, most of Europe and parts of the Middle East" (Brazier 35). As this empire expanded it encountered countless cultures that were eventually assimilated into the Empire. Although these cultures were conquered they did not cease to exist. The cultures continued to survive within the Roman Empire, they were just somewhat repressed."

Tags:magic, religion, egypt

Abstract
The paper discusses how the comparative study of religion has many positive elements. The paper explains that as an academic field, it can go a long way in fighting prejudice, intolerance and ignorance, and as an academic study, it becomes a disciplined and historically informed endeavor. The paper describes how it also provides a field for different religions and communities to come together in a dialogue. Furthermore, the paper argues that comparative religion can also help other academic fields including, but not limited to history, sociology, anthropology, political sciences, even art and architecture, and, by studying religions one can learn a lot about the human psyche and it can also enrich a person's life.

From the Paper
"The comparative study of religion has many positive elements. First of all, as an academic field it can go a long way in fighting prejudice, intolerance and ignorance. As an academic study it becomes a disciplined and historically informed endeavor. It also provides a field for different religions and communities to come together in a dialogue. Furthermore, comparative religion can also help other academic fields including, but not limited to history, sociology, anthropology, political sciences, even..."

Tags:religion, study, comperative

Abstract
By first examining religious phenomena, Durkheim's emphasis on the individual aspects of religion is outlined in this paper. This follows an examination of the typical functionalist ideal: That in order to understand a society, you must first examine its parts. It explains that 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. The paper then examines how Durkheim and Marx are very similar, as they both believe religion was created by society. It shows that, despite the differences in their respective paradigms, Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim's sociologies of religion are very similar.

From the Paper
"There are many different paradigms within the study of sociology; each leads to a different conclusion regarding society. Two of these paradigms are evident in the work of Emile Durkheim and Karl Marx. Durkheim was a functionalist, Marx, a realist. The functionalist perspective can be defined as "The doctrine that the function of an object should determine its design and materials"(Functionalist, 2002). Thus, in order to understand society, one must examine its parts and their functions. Materialists, on the other hand believe "that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena" (Materialist, 2002). These opposing theories are evident in much of their respective works, as Durkheim's description is more detailed and functional, and Marx's is more purposeful. However, with regards to the sociology of religion, these differences are only skin-deep. Contrary to common belief, their underlying arguments are actually quite similar as will be proved subsequently."

Tags:durkheim, marx, religion

Abstract
The writer of this paper details how in the face of advanced science, people still turn to religion as their savior. This paper explores at length how religion affects personality while also analyzing the two forms of religious behavior, which have been recognized in recent research and are known as intrinsic and extrinsic. This paper also explains that religion, the conviction-faith of the personality, can triumph over despair born in the unbelieving material mind. Differing cultural views and religions are discussed and reviewed as well.
Relevant sections in this report include:
Introduction
Analysis
Conclusion
Bibliography and References

From the Paper
"The effect of religion on an individual comes at two planes: the societal plane and the individual plane. At individual plane, it varies from the extremely benign to psychotic. Without generalization, one can say that the final influence of religion, how it molds a personality and how its ultimate effects on the personality turn out, depends a lot on the way religion is treated by the individual. In most cases, the effect on personal lives of people is benign. The people who are religious, are more likely to be, family men, more adjusted, more balanced in their outlook, more 'normal' in most senses, provided they are not extremists, not given to illusions of grandeur, not suffering from prejudices and jaundiced views about specific groups and specific ideas, and are not predisposed to hate followers of other faiths. This may look like a long list of 'ifs' but it all boils down to one thing: a middle approach."

Tags:death, belief, christianity, judaism, islam, theology, religion

Abstract
This paper goes into detail regarding the religion of Santeria. It discusses different aspects of the religion, the similarities it has to other religions, and includes problems it faces in today's society.

From the Paper
"Religion, in some ways, confuses me. They all claim to be so different yet, when one takes a close look at them, they all have striking resemblances to each other. I was raised in a Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox household. Although both had some differences, anyone could see all the similarities that they possessed. All religions pick, choose, and blend from other religions and form a new version. A type of creolization if you will. Different aspects of two similar religions (Catholicism and Yoruba) were blended together to form what we now know as the worldwide religion of Santeria. In this paper I will be discussing the origins of this fascinating religion, what it entails, and a couple of the problems that people who practice the religion face."

Tags:religion, santeria, world

Abstract
This paper considers the various ways Augustus used religion and religious beliefs to strengthen the position of his regime during the period 43 BCE - 14 CE. Focus is placed on the role of religion as an agent of social inclusion, especially for the disenfranchised social groups produced by the Augustan social and Moral Legislation. The Emperor's position and the centre of state religion and how this was achieved is also assessed, as is the impact of a number of these religious changes, notably the significance of the changing role of priesthoods.

From the Paper
"Religion, religious belief and religious imagery are all core components of the Augustan regime's rise to power and exploiting such beliefs enhanced Augustus' position considerably. As with almost every aspect of the Augustan settlement with the state it is effectively a piecemeal activity and thus it is difficult for one to discuss the religious policy of Augustus, however, consideration can be given to a number of events and decisions which show the various ways Augustus used religion and religious ideas to enhance his position."

Tags:augustales, augustus, cult, empire, imperial, priesthoods, principate, religion, roman, rome

Abstract
This essay discusses Eric Fromm's view of religion. Fromm sees religion as something that can help people achieve self-fulfillment and understanding. He also sees religion as serving a positive force in society.

Tags:eric, fromm, religion

Abstract
Religion has been a driving force in the lives of human beings since time began. Modern moral decline signals the failing of modern religion to uphold a significant value system and outlet for man's craving for something to believe in. This paper details a new religion, "Spirituality for Souls and Communities in the New Age", that by incorporating traditional religious teachings and practices with spiritual and intellectual freedom would meet the needs of individuals in today's world.

Tags:religion, 21st, century

Abstract
This essay critically assesses the contribution of cultural sociology to the understanding of religion. It does this by first examining and summarizing how three "classical sociological theorists" (i.e.: Weber, Durkheim and Marx) see the nature of religion as a cultural form. It then looks at various recent theories of religion under globalization. The author then assesses the contribution that these cultural theories give to the understanding of real religious phenomena through examining whether they can help in an understanding of Islamic fundamentalism in general, and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria specifically. The paper includes extensive use of quotes from the three theorists.

From the Paper
"In fact, according to Giddens, Marx believed that religion is the "opium of the people" (Giddens, 1996, p464). In other words, Marx believed that religion defers happiness and rewards to the afterlife, teaching the acceptance of existing conditions in this life. This means that attention is diverted away from inequalities and injustices in this life by promising a better future in the Afterlife. In addition to this, Budd believes that Marx thought religion not only reflected the suffering of the working class, but offered a "fantasy escape" from that suffering (Budd, 1973). Marx believed that religion had a very powerful ideological element, and that religious beliefs and values often provide justifications of inequalities of wealth and power (Giddens, 1996). He further claims that religion often has ideological implications which serve to justify the interests of the ruling class at the expense of other subordinate classes (Giddens, 1996)."

Tags:cultural, durkheim, fundamentalism, globalisation, islamic, marx, religion, sociology, weber