When looking at all four theorists (Frazer, Durkheim, Marx, Freud) and their theories about religion, I find myself relating to Durkheim’s theory the most. I think that he has the most believable definition compared to the other theorists. I do not believe that religion is the product of magic and that everyone will forget about religion and start to believe in just science as Frazer said because I don’t think that it’s possible for everyone to abandon religion all together. I also don’t believe in any of Freud’s theories of religion because I don’t think that religion is neurosis and I don’t believe that people have Oedipal guilt. I think that Marx’s theory can be true in some cases and that people have abused religion in order to get what they want, however I don’t believe that is the root of religion or the human condition.
Durkheim makes the most sense to me because he talks most about how religion functions to stabilize society and bring together the people of a community to share common ideas about what is “sacred.” I think that this theory is the best because it is familiar to me and I believe that it is how my religion is based.