Final answer:
Durkheim's view on religion focuses on the division between the sacred, which is revered and extraordinary, and the profane, which concerns ordinary life. The three elements of religion, according to Durkheim, are a set of beliefs, rites around the sacred, and the establishment of a community. The sacred reinforces social cohesion, while the profane pertains to routine aspects of society.
Step-by-step explanation:
French sociologist Émile Durkheim proposed that in every society, there are certain elements that are set apart as sacred, inspiring awe and reverence, often connected to the divine. In contrast, other elements are considered profane, pertaining to the ordinary aspects of life. Durkheim's analysis of religion highlighted a dichotomy where the sacred involves everything that is extraordinary and transcendent, warranting veneration and special rules, while the profane encompasses everyday, mundane life. According to Durkheim, three primary elements of religion include a set of shared beliefs, ritual practices around the sacred, and the formation of a moral community or church. This unified system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things maintains social cohesion and control and provides meaning and purpose. Durkheim emphasized that whether an object or idea is considered sacred or profane is determined by the collective mindset within a society, and rituals involving sacred objects or phenomena strengthen community bonds and create a sense of collective effervescence among its members. In examining the societal impacts of religion, Durkheim contended that these shared definitions of sacred and profane are essential for social order and stability and that religion's underlying power reflects the power of the society itself. Thus, even with the potential decline of traditional religion, the essential social functions it performs could potentially be transferred to secular institutions and symbols, demonstrating that society's cohesion does not solely depend on the presence of a conventional religious framework.