Beliefs in Society - Age and religion Flashcards
What are the 3 reasons that older people are religious?
disengagement
religious socialisation
ill health and death
what is when old people are detached from integration methods in society as they don’t go to work, and religion therefore offers social support and a network of people?
disengagement
how does religious socialisation explain why older people are more religious?
They are more likely to have greater emphasis on religion placed on them through education (they may rediscover religion as they age)
How does ill health & death explain why older people are more religious?
they are faced with declining health and as death looms, religion acts as a comfort
Are younger people more/less likely to express their religion?
less likely
Which survey showed that there has been a significant decline in the number of religious people despite a population increase?
2011 survey
What does Voas say about young people and religion?
in developed countries that are less likely to identify as religious/attend services
What does Catto say about young people and religion?
Young people are more likely to rely on their conscious to guide behaviour rather than religion.
Family friends and social media may be more important influences.
Identifying as religious is now a minority among young people, except for Muslims and NRMs.
What are the main point about the declining attractiveness of religion?
very unattractive to most young people.
Seen as boring, reputive and old fashioned.
This is particularly seen mainly in issues e.g. abortion
What does Cusack say about the expanded spiritual marketplace?
in early 21st century, in the Western world, religion has significantly declined
What does Roof say about the expanded spiritual marketplace?
young people have an expanded spiritual marketplace as they have used ‘pick n mix’ to form their identities
How has religion became more important in N. American and W European countries?
immigration
How may young people ‘believe without belonging’, according to Davie?
may be choosing to treat their religion as a private matter.
may not feel they belong to any particular religion.
Or may prefer not to have any public involvement of whatever they believe
Who suggest that although young people may be distant from religion in its traditional form, they often develop religious feelings through aspects of what is typically seen as non-religious or secular life. And give an example of this?
Lynch
growing belief in mindfulness, spirituality etc.
How can pragmatic reasons explain why younger people do not participate in religion as much as older people?
Leisure much bigger part of life. Young people have more demands on their time, and may simply have more interesting enjoyable things to do.
Also seen as ‘uncool’ to be religious in many young peer groups.
What does Bruce say about the decline in religious education?
Fewer young people receiving religious knowledge from formal institutions
Secularisation in education leads to the erosion of religious beliefs.
Example: The decline in Sunday school attendance.
What does Lyotard say about secularisation and the decline of metanarratives
Postmodernity leads to scepticism towards metanarratives (religion is one)
What does Berger say about secularisation and the decline of metanarratives
Pluralism undermines religious certainty, leading to secularization. e.g. increased reliance on science and rationality over religion
