ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that there are common culture theories, aspects of which bear considerable similarities to the dominant ideology thesis, and secondly there has been a tendency to present classical sociologists such as Durkheim as if they were common culture theorists. There is, incidentally, evidence that Weber may have adopted some aspects of Durkheim's sociology of religion in formulating this particular interpretation of the social functions of religion. Empirically, modern capitalist societies do not have, common cultures which embrace all classes and segments of society. In other words, the aim of Durkheim's study is to establish the validity of sociology as an autonomous discipline. We can also suggest a connection between Durkheim's view of organic solidarity and conventional Marxist notions about the centrality of economic constraint in capitalism. However, the argument here indicates that Durkheim can be interpreted in such a way as to show a degree of analytical overlap with Marx.
