Emile Durkheim is widely recognized as the man who made sociology a science. As a child, he was fascinated by the scientific approach to society, but at that time there was no social science curriculum. Vowing to change this situation, Durkheim worked scrupulously to obtain his “diploma in philosophy in 1882.” (Johnson 34 years old) Unable to immediately change the French school system, Emile went to Germany to continue his studies. It was there that he published his first discoveries and acquired the knowledge necessary to influence the French education system. Emile Durkheim is a distinguished and erudite man who, through his work, established a platform on which other sociologists can build. Durkheim single-handedly contributed a number of elements to the newly founded field. First, in 1893, Durkheim published his first major work, The Division of Labor in Society. (Johnson 51) This book was revolutionary, in that it introduced the concept of “anomie,” which is the breakdown of the influence of social norms on individuals within a society. Then, in 1895, he published The Rules of the Sociological Method, which constituted his second major work. It was a manifesto explaining what sociology is and how it should be taught and implemented. Then he published his third major work, Suicide: A Study in Sociology. This was a case study that explored the different suicide rates among Protestants and Catholics, and argued that stronger social control among Catholics led to lower suicide rates. In 1912, Durkheim published his last major work, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. This book analyzes religion through the prism of a social phenomenon. By being a pioneer in the field of sociology, Emile Durkheim opened the door for other sociologists to build...... middle of paper ......nt. Religion, and its necessity, are beyond the bounds of time and, therefore, will never “disappear” or lose their importance. For a Catholic, justice towards God results from the virtue of religion. Overall, Catholics believe that their God, in His infinite compassion and love, gave them life and so it is only appropriate to honor Him through religion. Regardless of his disagreements with the Catholic faith, Emile Durkheim was a brilliant and innovative thinker who changed the way sociology is viewed today. His work, although somewhat outdated, paved the way for countless other sociologists, philosophers and revolutionaries. He died on November 15, 1917. Before his death, he enjoyed great esteem within the French community. He has held many important positions, including chair of education and teaching at many distinguished universities..