A comparison of durkheim and frued on native american cultur
A comparison of durkheim and frued on native american culturA Comparison of Durkheim and Freud on Native American Culture
Emile Durkheim and Sigmund Freud have radically different views on Native American culture. Freud, a psychologist, believes "that our task to civilization is to defend us against nature." He thinks that there are superior powers in nature like fate that inflict undetermined influences upon society (Freud). On the other hand, Durkheim a sociologist believes "religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to scared things." He initiates community wholeness and individuality intermingled into social structures. As a result, Durkheim and Freud have opposing views on individual social interaction among Native Americans.
An important source in understanding Native American religion is Emile Durkheim. As shown in this religion, Durkheim analyzed initiation rites that consisted of long ceremonies that would take a person from the profane world into the world of the scared (Durkheim). Since the idea of entering the sacred world was such a special occasion, proper rituals were enacted. The Native Americans focused extensively on rituals in joining a specific culture or tribe, involving the whole community and bringing everyone together throughout the area. These bonding rituals reiterated Durkheim's belief that everyone belonged to a specific social structure rather than being an individual.
Thus, after the Native Americans performed the ritual, one became a new person on a higher level. A perfect example in Native American tradition is the act of worshipping a girl, contained within a circle and bringing healing powers to those who believe (Hanges). To succeed in life, one must access this power so he can become a part of the desired social structure.
Of course, Durkheim believed there was a fine line between the sacred and the profane. The sacred was something revered and could be anything from a tree, to a rock, to a building (Durkheim). Durkheim's philosophy is exemplified by the worship of the natives, since trees, rocks, and other objects are considered sacred. This shows that Native American sacred ways are ways of fulfilling life.
Besides explaining initiation rites and sacredness, Durkheim helps one understand Native American Religion through his explanations of the corrobbori and effervescent rituals. He explains that when a gathering (corrobbori), took place, a feeling of spiritual exuberance was released (Durkheim). The Native Americans experienced these feelings of effervescence after community gatherings of different rituals. After performing such dances as the Sun Dance, one is over taken by the spirit of the Great (Hanges). In the Sun Dance, one prays with a pipe around a tree and sometimes has visions of what he needs in life (Hanges). Durkheim concurs with the Sun Dance ritual, because of the effervescence one gets from the demonstration.
Another reason that Durkheim aids in the study of Native...
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