The Revd Dr William S.F. Pickering has been an Anglican priest since 1950, and for twenty years was a lecturer in Sociology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is currently the General Secretary of the British Centre for Durkheimian Studies, which he helped to found in 1991. It is based in the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Oxford University. He has written and edited a number of books on Durkheim and his followers, as well as many articles. Among his other publications are Durkheim: Essays on Morals and Education (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1978). Sociology and Theology: Alliance and Conflict (Harvester Press, 1980), A Social History of the Diocese of Newcastle 1882-1982 (Oriel Press, 1981) and The Hutterites (Ward Lock Educational, 1982).

...The book represents a comprehensive analysis of Durkheim's sociology of religion, which makes it a must-read for scholars and students of sociology and sociology of religion...

• AcknowledgementsReferences, Notations, TranslationsAbbreviationsIntroductory RemarksPart I: Historical Perspectives1. Durkheim's religious quest - I. Adolescent changes, family life and personal beliefs2. Durkheim's religious quest - II. In professional achievement3. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - I. The early period4. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - II. The middle period5. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - III. The final formulationPart II: Taking up Positions6. Procedures and assumptions7. The sacred and the profane: the ground of religion - I. Defining the two poles8. The sacred and the profane: the ground of religion - II. The relations between them: further analysis9. Commitment to a definition10. The problem of the social and the individual in religion11. 'All religions are false: all religions are true'Part III: Beliefs and Ideas12. God's identity revealed13. Society: a divine being?14. In the beginning: religion or society?15. Représentations, symbols and reality16. The functions of religion: a case of misunderstanding?Part IV: Ritual and Effervescent Assembly17. Ritual - I. Prolegomena18. Ritual - II. Classification and function19. Ritual - III. Its relation to la vie sérieuse20. Ritual and myth: primacy or parity?21. Effervescent assembly: the source of religious change and strength - I. The process22. Effervescent assembly: the source of religious change and strength - II. Questions, criticisms and evaluationPart V: Contemporary Religion23. Durkheim's attitude to traditional religions24. Secularization: the history of mankind25. The invasion of religion by science26. The new religion: the cult of man or society?Part VI: Postscript27. Sociologie religieuse: a hope that quickly fades28. Sociologie religieuse: a case of exaggerated claims?NotesBibliographiesName indexSubject indexFull List of Contents

The Revd Dr William S.F. Pickering has been an Anglican priest since 1950, and for twenty years was a lecturer in Sociology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is currently the General Secretary of the British Centre for Durkheimian Studies, which he helped to found in 1991. It is based in the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Oxford University. He has written and edited a number of books on Durkheim and his followers, as well as many articles. Among his other publications are Durkheim: Essays on Morals and Education (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1978). Sociology and Theology: Alliance and Conflict (Harvester Press, 1980), A Social History of the Diocese of Newcastle 1882-1982 (Oriel Press, 1981) and The Hutterites (Ward Lock Educational, 1982).

...The book represents a comprehensive analysis of Durkheim's sociology of religion, which makes it a must-read for scholars and students of sociology and sociology of religion...

• AcknowledgementsReferences, Notations, TranslationsAbbreviationsIntroductory RemarksPart I: Historical Perspectives1. Durkheim's religious quest - I. Adolescent changes, family life and personal beliefs2. Durkheim's religious quest - II. In professional achievement3. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - I. The early period4. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - II. The middle period5. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - III. The final formulationPart II: Taking up Positions6. Procedures and assumptions7. The sacred and the profane: the ground of religion - I. Defining the two poles8. The sacred and the profane: the ground of religion - II. The relations between them: further analysis9. Commitment to a definition10. The problem of the social and the individual in religion11. 'All religions are false: all religions are true'Part III: Beliefs and Ideas12. God's identity revealed13. Society: a divine being?14. In the beginning: religion or society?15. Représentations, symbols and reality16. The functions of religion: a case of misunderstanding?Part IV: Ritual and Effervescent Assembly17. Ritual - I. Prolegomena18. Ritual - II. Classification and function19. Ritual - III. Its relation to la vie sérieuse20. Ritual and myth: primacy or parity?21. Effervescent assembly: the source of religious change and strength - I. The process22. Effervescent assembly: the source of religious change and strength - II. Questions, criticisms and evaluationPart V: Contemporary Religion23. Durkheim's attitude to traditional religions24. Secularization: the history of mankind25. The invasion of religion by science26. The new religion: the cult of man or society?Part VI: Postscript27. Sociologie religieuse: a hope that quickly fades28. Sociologie religieuse: a case of exaggerated claims?NotesBibliographiesName indexSubject indexFull List of Contents

The Revd Dr William S.F. Pickering has been an Anglican priest since 1950, and for twenty years was a lecturer in Sociology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is currently the General Secretary of the British Centre for Durkheimian Studies, which he helped to found in 1991. It is based in the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Oxford University. He has written and edited a number of books on Durkheim and his followers, as well as many articles. Among his other publications are Durkheim: Essays on Morals and Education (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1978). Sociology and Theology: Alliance and Conflict (Harvester Press, 1980), A Social History of the Diocese of Newcastle 1882-1982 (Oriel Press, 1981) and The Hutterites (Ward Lock Educational, 1982).

...The book represents a comprehensive analysis of Durkheim's sociology of religion, which makes it a must-read for scholars and students of sociology and sociology of religion...

• AcknowledgementsReferences, Notations, TranslationsAbbreviationsIntroductory RemarksPart I: Historical Perspectives1. Durkheim's religious quest - I. Adolescent changes, family life and personal beliefs2. Durkheim's religious quest - II. In professional achievement3. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - I. The early period4. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - II. The middle period5. The development of Durkheim's thought on religion - III. The final formulationPart II: Taking up Positions6. Procedures and assumptions7. The sacred and the profane: the ground of religion - I. Defining the two poles8. The sacred and the profane: the ground of religion - II. The relations between them: further analysis9. Commitment to a definition10. The problem of the social and the individual in religion11. 'All religions are false: all religions are true'Part III: Beliefs and Ideas12. God's identity revealed13. Society: a divine being?14. In the beginning: religion or society?15. Représentations, symbols and reality16. The functions of religion: a case of misunderstanding?Part IV: Ritual and Effervescent Assembly17. Ritual - I. Prolegomena18. Ritual - II. Classification and function19. Ritual - III. Its relation to la vie sérieuse20. Ritual and myth: primacy or parity?21. Effervescent assembly: the source of religious change and strength - I. The process22. Effervescent assembly: the source of religious change and strength - II. Questions, criticisms and evaluationPart V: Contemporary Religion23. Durkheim's attitude to traditional religions24. Secularization: the history of mankind25. The invasion of religion by science26. The new religion: the cult of man or society?Part VI: Postscript27. Sociologie religieuse: a hope that quickly fades28. Sociologie religieuse: a case of exaggerated claims?NotesBibliographiesName indexSubject indexFull List of Contents