Beliefs and Society: Topic 6- Organisations, movements and members

Question 1

Religiosity and Social groups

What does Davie argue about women and religiosity?

Answer 1

There are gender differences in terms of religious practice, belief, self-identification, attendence

Question 2

Religiosity and Social groups

What are some stats about women and religiousity?

Sociologist- Brierley

Answer 2

Brierley female churchgoers outnumber males by almost half of a million

Question 3

Religiosity and Social groups

What are the reasons for womens high religiosity?

Answer 3

• Socialisation: Women are socialised with beliefs that align with religion, can relate
• Women live longer: Women can find comfort in religion and get questions of life after death
• Paid work: Women have lower levels of involvement in paid work and have more time

Question 4

Religiosity and Social groups

What are the stats about age and religiosity?

Answer 4

Half of English churches have no one from under 20 attending

Question 5

Religiosity and Social groups

What are the reasons for young peoples low attendence?

Answer 5

• Pragmatic reasons: Young people have a greater demand on their time
• Unappealing: 87% of 10-14yr olds believe chursch is boring, old-fashioned, repetetive
• Secularisation: The family and educational system are talking less about religion due to society changing

Question 6

Religiosity and Social groups

What are the reasons for older peoples high attendence?

Answer 6

• Ageing affect: As people get older they become ‘naturally’ more concerned of matters like afterlife, so turn to religion
• Disengagement: Older people become detached from society, so they go to religion to compensate for lonliness and for comfort

Question 7

Religiosity and Social groups

What are the stats about ethnicity and religiosity?

Answer 7

Worship/attendence:
* Musilim (62%)
* Hindus (43%)
* Black christians (57%)
* White (37%)

Question 8

Religiosity and Social groups

What are the reasons for ethnicity and religiosity?

Answer 8

• Socialisation (Davies): Many ethnic minorites socialised their younger gen to maintain religiosity
• Cultural defence (Bruce): Many black people faced prejudice when assimilating to churches, therefore making their own church (pentecostal)
• Cultural transition: Religion can provide migrant ethnic minorites with a community in their new environment

Question 9

Types of religious organisation

What are the main factors of churches?

Answer 9

A single organisation that dominates society
* E.g. Church of England
* Very large
* Formal hierachy
* Very inclusive
* Low commitment
* Accept societys values and norms
* Believe they have the monopoly of truth

Question 10

Types of religious organisation

What are the main factors of sects?

Answer 10

A ‘sect’ from the main religion
* E.g. Jehovah witness
* No hieracy structure, one person
* Small with short life span
* Tight criteria
* Requires strong commitment
* Rejects society norms/values
* Believe only they have the truth

Question 11

Types of religious organisation

What are the main factors of denominations?

Answer 11

Halfway between a church and sect:
* E.g. Baptists church
* Large
* Formal hierachy
* Open to everyone
* Requires more commitment than churches
* Accepts society norm and values
* Tolerates other religions

Question 12

What are the main factors of cults?

Answer 12

Not always religious and focueses on individual perdonal growth:
* E.g. Scientology
* Loosly organised
* Small, short life span
* Often inclusive
* Very loose commitment
* Accepts society values and norms
* They tolerate other religions

Question 13

Types of religious organisation

What does Troeltsch, Niebuhr and Stark & Binbridge note about the difference between the different types of religious organisations?

Answer 13

• Troeltsch: Distinguished between 2 types, churches and sects
• Niebuhr: Denomiations were created as a mid-way between church & sects
• Stark & Binbridge: Cults are similar to sects but not always religious