Emile Durkheim's Theories On Suicide

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In response to the article written by Ismail Khan, Bomber on Motorcycle Kills 9 During Rush Hour in Pakistan, Emile Durkheim would apply his beliefs and theories on suicide and religion, both individually and in conjunction with one another.

Durkheim states that suicide is often a result of ‘social causes’ that are imposed throughout society and not the individual themselves. Durkheim also reiterates that suicide can be comprehended through examining and learning about social factors instead of each individual that pertains to a particular case. Often society and the bonds one has with society plays a very important role in the situation which leads to the act of suicide. We have to analyze how society influences the particular situation and how altering some of society’s beliefs and ideas as well as implementing social cohesion may halt the rate of suicides.
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This group was formed to ensure their religious beliefs and ideas were not overlooked by the rest of society. People that are part of a group like the Taliban often have little autonomy as they all conform to the same beliefs and ideas of that group. Durkheim discusses how one loses their individualism when they become part of and conform to a given group. The members of the Taliban are very radical and extreme and will commit any act of violence in order to convey their message. The extreme violence does not phase them as they have an absence of social bonds with the rest of society. Because of this lack of social bond, Durkheim would suggest that the religion behind their group unifies them because of the social activities they take part in. These social activities include committing suicide and killing innocent civilians. They use religion to set specific rules and regulations that the group must obey and