Forget James for now, because I cannot begin to wonder what the heck he is talking about. So i am going to move along to Durkheim. This idea of religion being a social function really intrigued me. For one it's because I had always believed that going to church was a social function. I believed that my mom had wanted to go to church only too maintain her social ties, which in a sense is true. Although, I started to take her belief in God for granted. She deeply believes he is the One; The ultimate creator, who has plans for everyone. Thats fine, she can believe in him/her is she wants. But i understand the importance of the congregation held every Sunday. Not only is she allowed to cherish her god, but she creates a community of people with similar beliefs, and creates a bond. As I have witness as a person who discontinue her visits to church, have witnessed the deterioration of a community that I was once apart of, also I have become as Freud would consider not "mentally ill". From my absence from church, I have been able to achieve what I consider a rational way of thinking. I don't have to rely on a superior being to explain my misfortunes. I have no unity with a community of religious beliefs, other than with my family, and our religious belief. It is because of this that I believe that Durkheim is correct, religion is always somehow related to the social.