'If religion generated everything that is essential in society, this is because the idea of society is the soul of religion.' In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912), Emile Durkheim set himself the task of discovering the enduring source of human social identity. He investigated what he considered to be the simplest form of documented religion - totemism among the Aborigines of Australia. Aboriginal religion was an avenue 'to yield an understanding of the religious nature of man, by showing us an essential and permanent aspect of humanity'. The need and capacity of men and women to relate socially lies at the heart of Durkheim's exploration, in which religion embodies the beliefs that shape our moral universe. The Elementary Forms has been applauded and debated by sociologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, philosophers, and theologians, and continues to speak to new generations about the origin and nature of religion and society. This new, lightly abridged edition provides an excellent introduction to Durkheim's ideas. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917）涂尔干（杜尔克姆、迪尔凯姆），法国社会学家，社会学的学科奠基人之一。1858年4月15日出生于法国孚日省埃皮纳尔一个小城镇的犹太教教士家庭。幼年曾学习希伯莱文、旧约和犹太教法典。青年时代放弃了宗教信仰，走上实证科学的道路。1879年，就学于巴黎高等师范学校，1882年毕业。1882～1887年，在省立中学教书。其间赴德国一年,学习教育学、哲学、伦理学,深受W.冯特实验心理学的影响。1887～1902年，在波尔多大学教书，并在那里创建了法国第一个教育学和社会学系。1891年，被任命为法国第一位社会学教授。1898年，创建了法国《社会学年鉴》。围绕这一刊物形成了一批年轻社会学家的团体──法国社会学年鉴派。1902年后执教于巴黎大学。第一次世界大战中断了这位反战学者的学术研究，他的儿子和许多学生死于战场,他受到极大的刺激。1917年11月15日在巴黎去世。主要著作有：《社会分工论》(1893)、《社会学方法的规则》（1895）、《自杀论》(1897)、《宗教生活的基本形式》(1912)等。