Age and Religion

Question 1

Age and religion

Answer 1

Belief in God highest among those over 55. Young people less likely to participate in mainstream religious activity and over half say they don’t regard themselves as religious at all.

Question 2

3 factors explaining why older people are more attached to religion

Answer 2

1. Disengagement- become more disengaged in integrated society, such as through paid employment
2. Religious socialisation- Older people more likely to have had greater emphasis placed on them in family and education.
3. Ill-health and death- Have declining health so offers comfort

Question 3

Why young people are less religious than old people

Answer 3

• Declining attraction of religion: boring, old-fashioned and out of touch with styles and attitudes of young people
• Expanded spiritual marketplace: globalisation; immigration, new age movements, transnational religions, spiritualities (e.g. Goth culture)
• Privatisation of belief- believing and not belonging: May prefer not to make public display or think they belong there
• Declining religious education: Bruce- Church of England unable to recruit young people through socialisation due to sunday schools in decline