The paper explains that Durkheim believed religion, originating from the society or the needs of the society rather than
from the human mind, is essentially a moral force that determines and codifies what is good and bad for a society. The author points out Karl Marx's statement that "
religion is the opium of the common people" and his opinion that it is not a necessary factor in the
development of the society. The paper states that Max Weber's views on religion are more sociological than an analysis of religion itself; however, he acknowledged that religion has a strong social effect that helps in the development of the society. Table of Contents Introduction Analysis Comparison