Final answer:
Durkheim believed that religion served as a force of cohesion for societies by promoting social solidarity through common beliefs and values. Religion creates a community and upholds the social structure by bringing individuals together to affirm these shared elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
French sociologist Émile Durkheim believed that religion was useful for human societies because it acted as a force of cohesion, helping to bind members of society to their group. One of the primary functions of religion, according to Durkheim, was to ensure that people meet regularly to affirm common beliefs and values, thereby creating social solidarity. Durkheim defined religion as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things,” where sacred items are extraordinary, inspiring awe, and fostering a sense of community among those who adhere to them.
The correct answer to the question asked by the student is: C. Durkheim argued that religion has the function of cohering a society by ensuring that people meet regularly to affirm common beliefs and values. This view aligns with Durkheim's perspective that religion serves to bind a society together, promoting behavior consistency and social control, whilst offering meaning and purpose during life's transitions and tragedies.