The Relevance of Durkheim’s Theory for Understanding The Religious Lives of Punan Bah

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to explain the essence of religion based on Emile Durkheim’s theory in his book entitled The Elementary Forms ofthe Religious Life, (1912). Durkheim (1858-1917) an eminent sociologist,wasbomon15“'April1858inLouraine,France.Hisworks also focused on social facts ofthe daily lives ofa community, including The Division ofLabour in Society (1893), Rules of Sociological Method (1895), Suicide (1897) and The Elementary Forms ofthe Religious Life (1912). The Punan Bah is a community who live in the raral areas of Sungai Rajang, Belaga, Sarawak. Similar to other rural communities in the region, the Punan Bah profess the same religion and traditional beliefs known as Bungan. The religious practices of this community, may conform to the theory proposed by Durkheim. Durkheim’s observations are very relevant for studying the religious lives ofthe Punan Bah as there are many similarities between the origins of their primitive religion' with the aboriginals in the rural parts of Australia. This is also because of the influence from the Bungan as the main traditional religion compared to the ones before known as pesavie. This recognition shows how religion plays an important role in the lives of the Punan Bah. The teachings of the Bungan also showed how simple, clear and orderly its influences are, as can be seen in the ways they apply it to their everyday lives. At the same time,the unique representation of the Bungan Punan Bah conforms closely to Durkheim’s concept of totemism. According to Durkheim, totemism is a form of belief, also a primitive religion, which involves the mystical relationship between human beings and the animals or plants of choice in the surrounding habitat.In this respect then, totemism is a collective ideology, a symbol to the community and not something individualistic. Totemism, as outlined by Durkheim is also clearly manifested in the lives of the religious community of Bungan Punan Bah.