西美尔对现代社会中宗教处境问题的诊断，对文化的本质及现代文化冲突的解读，都体现出他对现代人的精神结构和生存处境的反思。他提出的“社会如何可能”的问题与“宗教如何可能”的问题是一体的。从他对“宗教如何可能”问题的解答，可以看到他对“社会如何可能”的问题的解答，从中牵连出不少重要命题，比如宗教与劳动分工的关系，个体性与归属性的关系，宗教与社会平等的关系，宗教宽容问题，值得我们经常回味。
本书认为，宗教整合性简直就是社会整合性的绝对形式，克服了性别差异的整合性构成了一种特殊的宗教类型，神不仅是个人的个性、活力、合乎道德或缺乏道德的秉性以及爱好的需要的理想化，而且很多情况下是个体之间的社会生活形式赋予了宗教观念以内容，收入《论宗教》、《宗教的地位问题》、《1870年以来德国生活与思想的趋向》等精彩论文，极具学术价值。

This important contribution to the sociology of religion provides an analysis that clarifies the often ironic interaction between religion and society.Berger is noted for his concise and lucid style.

'If religion generated everything that is essential in society, this is because the idea of society is the soul of religion.' In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912), Emile Durkheim set himself the task of discovering the enduring source of human social identity. He investigated what he considered to be the simplest form of documented religion - totemism among the Aborigines of Australia. Aboriginal religion was an avenue 'to yield an understanding of the religious nature of man, by showing us an essential and permanent aspect of humanity'. The need and capacity of men and women to relate socially lies at the heart of Durkheim's exploration, in which religion embodies the beliefs that shape our moral universe. The Elementary Forms has been applauded and debated by sociologists, anthropologists, ethnographers, philosophers, and theologians, and continues to speak to new generations about the origin and nature of religion and society. This new, lightly abridged edition provides an excellent introduction to Durkheim's ideas. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.