Final answer:
French sociologist and anthropologist Émile Durkheim is known for his empirical approach to religion, defining it as a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to 'sacred things,' and emphasizing the collective aspect that forms a church. His work helps in understanding the major categories of religions and demonstrates the dynamic nature of religious beliefs in societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anthropologist distinguished for categorizing religions into four major categories is Émile Durkheim. His empirical approach defined religion as "a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things" which include components such as beliefs, practices, and a social organization. Moreover, Durkheim's contemporary, Sir E.B. Tylor, had a more limited view, defining religion simply as "the belief in supernatural beings" which came to be considered too narrow.
In his work, "The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life," Durkheim suggested that to understand complex religious systems, one might start with the study of 'simple religions' such as totemism in Indigenous Australian cultures. By understanding these systems, one gathers insights into the more elaborate religions. His definition emphasized the collective aspect of beliefs and practices, which help form a social institution or church.
Another early anthropologist, Sir James Frazer, although more dismissive of spiritual beliefs, contributed to the understanding of religions by attempting to compile a comprehensive study of various belief systems. Later anthropologists and scholars continued to refine these classifications and the understanding of religion as a dynamic and evolving aspect of human culture.