[6.2] Religiosity and social groups

Question 1

[GENDER] Who expresses more interest in religion?

Answer 1

Women.

Question 2

[GENDER] In 2005, how many men and women went to church?

Answer 2

Men - 1.6 million

Women - 1.8 million

Question 3

[GENDER] What does Bruce estimate?

Answer 3

Twice as many women are involved in sects as men.

Question 4

[GENDER] What may gender differences in religiosity be due to?

Answer 4

The way people see God, women see him as a god of love and forgiveness whereas men see him as a god of power and control.

Question 5

[GENDER] What are Woodhead’s three female responses to religion?

Answer 5

Home-centred women - traditional Christians.
Jugglers - interested in New Age movements.
Career women - secularised, no time.

Question 6

[GENDER] What do Glendinning and Bruce argue?

Answer 6

Women subscribe more to alternative therapies than men.

Question 7

[GENDER] Give five reasons for women’s higher participation in religion.

Answer 7

1. Women are socialised to be obedient, a quality which religion values.
2. Women are closer to life and death (Greeley).
3. Women live longer.
4. Women are more socially, economically and organismically deprived.
5. Women are more familiar with the natural, like some sects and religions.

Question 8

[GENDER] What is the recent trend?

Answer 8

Women are now leaving the church at a faster rate than men.

Question 9

[GENDER] How did Brown explain the drop in female attendance?

Answer 9

Christianity is linked with traditional gender roles, which women are now rejecting along with religion that emphasises them.

Question 10

[GENDER] Why are women more likely to join sects?

Answer 10

They are more deprived and they are more morally conservative.

Question 11

[GENDER] Why are women more likely to join cults?

Answer 11

They are private and individualised and can be practised from within the private sphere of the home, and women are more in touch with their expressive sides.

Question 12

[GENDER] Why are women attracted to fundamentalism?

Answer 12

It brings certainty and values women’s traditional roles of wife and mother.

Question 13

[ETHNICITY] Which group has a higher than average religious participation level?

Answer 13

Ethnic minorities.

Question 14

[ETHNICITY] What happens once a group has made the transition to a new society?

Answer 14

Religion becomes less important and is no longer needed.

Question 15

[ETHNICITY] What did Johal notice the formation of?

Answer 15

A ‘Brasian’ identity.

Question 16

[ETHNICITY] Give five reasons for ethnic differences in religiosity.

Answer 16

1. Immigration from impoverished countries = more religion to begin with.
2. Cultural defence.
3. Provides support.
4. Extended family living arrangements passes down the religiosity.
5. Respect, obedience and honour that comes from religion is valued.

Question 17

[ETHNICITY] What does Chryssides argue?

Answer 17

Ethnic minorities follow one of three paths;
Apostasy - abandoning religion.
Accommodation - fitting religion in.
Renewed vigour - asserting religion more strongly.

Question 18

[AGE] Who is more likely to be religious?

Answer 18

Older people.

Question 19

[AGE] What are the two exceptions to the pattern?

Answer 19

Young people are likely to go because they are forced to, and over 65s are less likely to attend due to disability or illness.

Question 20

[AGE] Why are young people less religious?

Answer 20

Cultural amnesia, less of a priority, science, religion is restrictive, conflict.

Question 21

[AGE] What are the reasons that Voas and Crockett suggest for age differences in religiosity?

Answer 21

The ageing effect - people turn to religion as they get older as they worry about ultimate questions.
The generational effect - each generation is half as religious as the previous one.

Question 22

[AGE] Who is more likely to join sects?

Answer 22

Young adults.

Question 23

[AGE] Who is more likely to join cults?

Answer 23

Middle aged people.

Question 24

[CLASS] Which class attends church more?

Answer 24

The middle class.

Question 25

[CLASS] Why are lower class people less religious?

Answer 25

They have a general distrust of officialdom, alienation, economic deprivation drives them elsewhere.