To approach the controversial subject of religion has been historically difficult. The variety in the basic structures of religions, and even more so in specific religions, makes defining religion from a single inflexible viewpoint problematic. While there are many attempts at this feat, two of the most important are those of Max Weber and Emile Durkheim. Weber, an early 20th century sociologist, approaches religion from the perspective of individual experience in his "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism". Durkheim however, looking at more primitive societies, focuses on the societal aspect of religious experiences and structures in "The Elementary Forms of Religious Life".
Weber's understanding of religion, and its highly individualized nature, is deeply rooted in the German Calvinism that was not only his personal background but also his sole focus of study. Lutheranism/Calvinism is well established both socially and intellectually at the time that Weber studies it. On the other hand, Durkheim is looking at primitive religions and also attempting to understand religions as they are born. He is interested in religion's causes and modes of formation. It is understandable then how the major differences in their respective conclusions are reconcilable. Weber is looking at how individuals interact with an established tradition that has already created meaning and order in their lives, whereas, Durkheim is studying the process of creating meaning and order in a group's collective experience through the creation of qualitatively religious systems.
The collective experiences collected by Durkheim can potentially be understood to evolve into the individual experiences described by Weber. According to Durkheim, we will be able to best understand advanced religions when we analyze religion in its primitive stages. Primitive religions must be analyzed in their historical and societal contexts so that we might see how and why they were formed. We then have some insight into the basic precursors of religion and thus, by extension, of society itself. Religion is a manifestation of society attempting to validate itself. The evolution of religion is dependant on the basic systematic structures of society. The created belief system is intrinsically linked to the society itself and it will serve to aid the members of this society in coming together as a unified community.
Durkheim's hypothesis of religion is centered on society. He defines religion as:
"a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden-beliefs and practices which unite into one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them (44)". Religion is then, the fusion of individual thoughts into a collective. The individual has integrated into society and adopted its system of morals, beliefs and practices.
