Jacob Marshall Hardy
August 29, 2017
... the concept not in the light of the spiritual/eternal soul, but more in the case of the conceptual. Durkheim was concerned primarily with how the idea of a soul even came into being. How humankind could conceive of a part of itself that was separate from the body.
Ultimately, try and direct the conversation in the classroom to how the idea of the soul came to be from Durkheim’s point of view. It does not need to be a strict religious argument. The concept of the soul has existed in a variety of societies, both ancient and modern, and Durkheim’s examination of the concept itself should not be taken as a narrowly religious argument.
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Examples?
Examples of the soul could remain in the fictional, such as the Force ghost of Star Wars in the following slide. Another fantasy example might include many of the spirit like beings found in Lord of the Rings.
As far as non fictional examples go, this subject may be slightly sensitive for some students so, at the lecturers discretion, examples could be kept to fictional only.
If examples from religions today are brought up, analysis of how they all set apart a portion of the total person into the soul can be discussed, and how that ties into Durkheim’s analysis of the soul.
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One with the Force
Within Star Wars, a Force Ghost or Force Spirit, is an individual, who through deep meditation and training in the Light Side of the Force has gained the ability to manifest their presence outside of their body, even following their own death. Classic examples of this are Obi-Wan and Yoda appearing as blue, shimmering spirits to Luke.
This Force Ghost is very similar to the Durkheimian soul. When a Jedi becomes a Force Ghost they are said to “become one with the Force.” The same Force which Yoda told Luke permeated everything around them. In this way, it directly correlates to Durkheim’s totemic principle incarnated within the individual.
This is seen within the films when Obi-Wan disappears after Darth Vader kills him, only to reappear to Luke telling him to “use the Force” during the iconic trench run scene of Episode IV. In the final scene of Episode VI as well the Force Ghosts of Anakin, Yoda, and Obi-Wan all appear before Luke, individualized aspects, yet one with The Force.
Within Star Wars, the Force Ghost is that part of the individual which continues on after the passing of the body. They become “one with the Force” and highlight the nature of the totemic principle.
It is the portion of them that persists on after their body dies. This is highlighted several times throughout the films when a Jedi’s body simply fades away, leaving nothing behind, only for them to later reappear as a Force Ghost.
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Link to scene of Luke speaking to ghost Obi-Wan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G0IS94bBlM
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Religion
The concept of Religion is the culmination of much of the text. It is the unification of much of the previous terms already discussed
At its core, it is what unites a group of people into a church. It is this church which creates feelings of belonging, and an ability to tap into the totemic force which they consider sacred.
A religion then, is a group or organization that takes these elements, the understanding of the sacred and profane, and beliefs, uniting them into a healthy, inclusive, community.
Durkheim direct quote: “A religion is 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.” Emile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, (New York: The Free Press 1995) 44
This topic and the topic of magic are where the preceding points are all tied together to present Durkheim’s discussion as a whole.
All of the preceding topics come together to be the building blocks of what Durkheim calls religion. A religion then, is when these elements act in concert to create what is known as a church for Durkheim.
Key to the definition of a church/religion is that it promotes unity in the community. If unity and acceptance are not produced by these elements, then a religion has not been formed. That would be magic, discussed in the following section.
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Examples?
There are a variety of examples that can be discussed as always. Focus can be directed to either the world of fantasy or fiction, or to religious organizations in our world today.
Some fictional examples might include the Jedi, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, or other groups.
The Wizarding World in Harry Potter works well as another fictional example as it represents an inclusive community that welcomes all magic users (those with the same shared religious understanding) They exist apart from the muggles (non magic users) but they are not antagonistic to them like Voldemort is.
Real world examples might include special clubs or organizations, or potentially even whole nations. Key hallmarks are a shared understanding of the beliefs of the community, and a healthy open community.
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The Jedi Order
The Jedi Order and its members are the Star Wars equivalent of a religion. They unite their members into an order, strengthened by the Code, they possess the churinga of the lightsaber, and they tap into The Force. They remain the pivotal focus of the entire Star Wars saga.
The relationship between the Master and the Padawan also highlights this. The Jedi went to great lengths to connect to their students and the bond between them was quite strong. A Master took his Padawan with him everywhere, and the bond between them became so strong that they could actually feel each other through The Force.
The Jedi function as a solid example as they easily personify all of the previous discussed topics, and represent an inclusive, uniting community, compared to the Sith.
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The Jedi temple (left) and the Jedi symbol (right)
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Magic
Magic is the antithesis of religion for Durkheim. It possesses many of the hallmarks of a religion, but it lacks the distinct ability to unite individuals. Magic is ultimately an isolated, closed system, that often fractures.
Durkheim direct quote: “Granted, magic beliefs are never without a certain currency. They are often widespread among broad strata of the population, and there are even peoples where they count no fewer active followers than religion proper. But they do not bind men who believe in them to one another and unite them into the same group, living the same life. There is no Church of magic” Emile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, (New York: The Free Press 1995) 42
For Durkheim, magic is what occurs when the hallmark elements of religion are used in such a way that a united, inclusive group (a church) is NOT produced. These two topics of religion and magic often help clear up many of the questions that students have surrounding the argument between good or bad impacts and effects of religion.
If the elements of the religion are used to coerce, control, ostracize, oppress, etc., then that is magic, as it does not produce a church or community of believers.
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Examples?
Examples here might range from the fictional to the nonfictional, but will most likely contain discussion of how religious systems across the world have acted as oppressive or discordant institutions. Examples might range from the historical discussion surrounding events such as the crusades or the inquisition, or to more modern discussions surrounding religion or politics today.
Fictional examples might include the Sith from Star Wars, or Voldemort and his death eaters from Harry Potter.
The key point is to ask students if the elements of the religion being discussed were being used to create an inclusive and uniting community, or if it was designed to fracture and separate.
A key point that might be raised and should be noted is that a religion can still believe that it holds a singular truth and others do not. This in and of itself is not magic. It becomes magic when instead of desiring to share that truth with others, or to coexist with other religions in an open and honest way, it instead uses its understanding of the sacred and profane as a reason to oppress or manipulate others.
Durkheim’s quote is key here. There is no church of magic.
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The Sith
The Sith are an excellent example of a magic system within Star Wars. They possess many of the key elements of a religion. They have lightsaber/churingas, they tap into The Force, they even possess a code. But they have a distinct lack of unity.
The Sith follow the “Rule of Two”, meaning there are only ever two Sith in existence at any point. A master, and an apprentice. These two individuals then exist in a cutthroat relationship wherein the goal of the apprentice is to learn as much as he can from the master, then kill them.
In Episode III, Palpatine, before he becomes the evil emperor of the original trilogy, recounts to Anakin this very process how he murdered his former master.
The goal of this behavior was not to create a unified group of individuals, but to produce one, apex Sith. This was Palpatine’s ultimate goal, as we see in the original trilogy of films.
The Sith in Star Wars are a prime example of this as they bore all of the hallmarks of the Jedi (a religion) but ultimately did not produce a unity in their members.
Palpatine’s constant betrayals, including his own master, and in turn his own apprentices highlights this. Darth Maul was replaced by Count Dooku, who was in turn replaced by Anakin, who Palpatine ultimately wanted to replace with Luke Skywalker as well. The final battle of Episode VI has the emperor encouraging Luke to strike down his own father and take his place.
This acts as a clear example of how all of the elements of a religion can come together, but can produce something entirely different from an inclusive community.
Link to scene discussed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05dT34hGRdg
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The Sith emblem (right) and The final scene of Episode VI also highlights how the Sith view people as disposable. Palpatine urges Luke to kill his father and take his place.
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End of Lecture
Assessment Examples
Within Star Wars, the concept of the churinga most closely relates to?:
A blaster
A lightsaber
The Death Star
The Millennium Falcon
Assessment Examples
Durkheim describes the totemic force by saying that it is, “immanent in the world, diffused in a numberless multitude of things.” Which famous Jedi also taught Luke something similar about The Force in Star Wars?
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Mace Windu
Yoda
Qui-Gon Jinn
Assessment Examples
Durkheim describes religious tattooing as being used to testify that someone belongs to a certain group. Which Star Wars character is known for their tattoos?
Darth Maul
Luke Skywalker
Darth Vader
Han Solo
Assessment Examples
During class, the Jedi were discussed as being members of a religion. Possessing churingas, sacred codes and objects, and a connection to a totemic force. Give an example of another group, real or fictional, that also shares these traits and could be considered as a religion.
Assessment Examples
In Star Wars, Luke is taught to “feel The Force around him.” Give an example of a time in your life where you felt a kind of totemic force around you and how it affected you. Be as creative as you like!
Quick Reference Table
Durkheimian Concept Star Wars Connection Significance
The Churinga
Lightsaber
Group identity
Sacred Power
Sense of Belonging
Totem & Totemic Force
The Force Group Identity
Sacred Power
Root of religion/god
Sacred/Profane & Consecration
Jedi Code Sacred Power
Group Identity
Social movements/ideas
Religious Tattooing Sith Tattoos Group affiliation/identity
The Soul
Force Ghost/Spirit Totemic Force
Individual Identity
Sacred Power
Religion
Jedi Order Group Identity
Totemic Force
Sense of Belonging
Magic
Sith Individual Identity
Individual power
Lack of unity
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Subject Area(s):
- Teaching and Learning in Sociology
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Resource Type(s):
- Lecture
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Class Level(s):
- Any Level
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Class Size(s):
- Any
- Abstract:
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In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Durkheim studied Aboriginal Australian religion in an effort to better understand humanity as a whole. In doing so, he introduced a variety of concepts and terms that in today's classroom could be considered rather confusing...