Accounts Quote by Emile Durkheim
“For a long time it has been known that the first systems of representations with which men have pictured to themselves the world and themselves were of religious origin. There is no religion that is not a cosmology at the same time that it is a speculation upon divine things. If philosophy and the sciences were born of religion, it is because religion began by taking the place of the sciences and philosophy.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, 1912
Religion historically provided the first frameworks for understanding the world and self, shaping early scientific and philosophical thought.
In simple terms: Religion was the first way people explained everything.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how foundational beliefs shape modern knowledge.
Themes
religion
knowledge
history
philosophy
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- education
- cultural analysis
- interfaith dialogue
- science communication
Key Concepts
cosmology
social theory
cognitive origins
Questions to Reflect On
- How do early religious concepts still influence scientific perspectives?
- Can we separate myth from metaphor in modern thought?
A Different Perspective
Religion's narratives can limit empirical inquiry when taken as literal truth.
