Explain how each of these theorists understands the origin and purpose of religion, and how their theories differ from each other.
Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, and E?mile Durkheim all assume that religion is some form of false consciousness, i.e. a psychological and/or sociological product that alienates humans from reality and themselves. Yet their reductionist approaches to the study of religion are not identical. Explain how each of these theorists understands the origin and purpose of religion, and how their theories differ from each other.