A Critical Study on Religion and Ethics in Emile Durkheim's Socialism

French famous sociologist, Emile Durkheim, founded socialism and studied ethics and religion in a sociological method. In his thought, man qua man is interactive without any identity and responsibility; he arrives at his personality through living in a group or a party and takes the position of a man. Religion, furthermore, is regarded only as a social symbol that its function is restricted in gathering people of common believes and rituals. In this way, we can argue that it is a product of society. Fundamental and metaphysical propositions will generally be of authority only in regard to popular agreement. In this paper it is argued against socialistically interpretation of ethics and religion. Agreeing with common tendencies of a group which in many cases contradicts the other tendencies, surly leads to religo-ethical pluralism and relativism without any right and permanent fundamental propositions in the field. Since every group has its own desires and demands, there cannot be found universal judgments in ethics and religion. Durkheim's lack of agreement with majority, in addition, leads to a self-contradictory and opposes socialism.