Durkheim and the Non-Religious Moral Community: An Exercise in Theoretical Application

Abstract

In this assignment, students will explore examples of non-religious moral communities to develop a deeper understanding of key sociological concepts introduced by Émile Durkheim in his study of religion. Specifically, students will identify how Durkheim’s distinction between the sacred and profane, his explanation of the role of...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Leisure/Sports/Recreation, Religion, Social Organization, Teaching and Learning in Sociology, Theory

Resource Type(s):

Assignment, Class Activity

Class Level(s):

College 200, College 300, College 400, Graduate

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Goal #1: Define key theoretical concepts related to Durkheim’s study of moral and religious communities.
2. Goal #2: Explain the relevance of Durkheim’s key theoretical concepts to religious moral communities.
3. Goal #3: Apply Durkheim’s key theoretical concepts to the specific non-religious moral communities of college campuses.
4. Goal #4: Apply Durkheim’s key theoretical concepts to a specific non-religious moral community of which they are a member.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. Learning Goals may be assessed using the following activities:
   
   Goal #1: Activity I (Question #s 1-13), Activity II (Question #s 1 – 4), Activity III (Question #s 1 – 4).
   
   Goal #2: Activity I (Questions #s 1-13).
   
   Goal #3: Activity II (Question #s 1 – 4).
   
   Goal #4: Activity III (Question #s 1 – 4)