MR Michael P M Mhlanga

World Religions from a Zimbabwean Perspective MR Michael P M Mhlanga

In his theory of religion, Durkheim highlights that people often tend to split the religious objects, rituals and symbols that are considered sacred, from the everyday routines, objects and symbols of existence, which are considered irreligious (Lemert 2006). This is because the religious objects are usually considered to posses some divine properties that differentiate them from the irreligious objects. This is also applies to the more-advanced cultures considering the fact that certain objects are often viewed to be sacred objects possessing some sense of awe and reverence, even though there is no proof that such objects possess some kind of special power. Durkheim believes that the source of all religions is society (Pickering, 1975). All known religious beliefs have a common characteristic that they define all the things in two distinct categories, ideal and real, generally designated by the words sacred and profane (Lemert 2006). Thereby, the essence of religion is formed by the sacred aspects of social reality (i.e., held in a separate and considered prohibited). To glorify the things that the sacred creates attitudes and behaviors such as respect, mystery and fear.