Author Description

This is the first collection of essays to be published on Durkheim's masterpiece, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life. A classic of sociology and the study of religion, and one of his most important and influential works, The Elementary Forms is currently enjoying a renaissance in other, related disciplines. This collection represents the work of the most important, international Durkheim scholars from the fields of anthropology, philosophy and sociology. From these diverse viewpoints, the contributors examine Durkheim's perspective on the role of religion and social life. The essays focus on key issues, for example, the method Durkheim adopted in his study; the role of ritual and belief in society; the nature of contemporary religion, as well as on debates on the notion of the soul and contemporary collective civic rituals. This collection fills a major gap in studies on Durkheim, and will be a vital resource for students and researchers in anthropology, sociology and philosophy and religious studies.