Beliefs- Religion and Social Groups

Question 1

What is religious belief?

Answer 1

Believing that the world is controlled by supernatural forces (usually a god or group of gods)

Question 2

What is religiosity?

Answer 2

The level of an individual’s connection to all aspects of religion- how religious the person is

Question 3

What did the 2011 census find about religiosity varying by age?

Answer 3

22% of Christians in England and Wales were over 65, and only 3.9% of Muslims were over 65

Question 4

Who tended to say they had no religion?

Answer 4

Younger people

Question 5

Who are more likely to get involved in world-affirming movements?

Answer 5

Middle-aged groups

Question 6

Who are more likely to get involved in world-affirming movements?

Answer 6

Middle-aged groups

Question 7

Why do sects appeal to young adults?

Answer 7

By messages of friendship and companionship which can be attractive to those experiencing forms of anomie and detachment from the world, and those who have few responsibilities

Question 8

How are sects and cults populated?

Answer 8

With young adults

Question 9

Why do cults appeal to young adults?

Answer 9

To their inner thoughts and feelings of young adults who are often alienated from the primary cultures of society- cults are attractive to individuals already engaging in counterculture activity

Question 10

What are women more likely to do?

Answer 10

Attend church and say that they belong to a religion

Question 11

How has women being more religious been explained?

Answer 11

By their primary caregiver role- going to church and raising children to be religious is traditionally seen as an extension of that role

Question 12

How is differential socialisation a factor contributing to women being more religious?

Answer 12

Girls are socialised to be passive and to conform which fits with the behaviour of more traditional and conservative religious groups

Question 13

How does women living longer contribute to them being more religious?

Answer 13

More women are on their own as they get older and they may turn to religion for a sense of community

Question 14

What are women’s roles in sects?

Answer 14

They generally participate more and many are established by women

Question 15

What did Glock and Stark argue?

Answer 15

That the gender difference in membership of NRMs is because deprivation is disproportionately experienced by women

Question 16

What does Bruce suggest?

Answer 16

That men are more interested in NRMs that advocate elitis and specialist (esoteric) knowledge and women are more interested in subjects that can be classified as New Science, New Ecology and New Spirituality

Question 17

Why do some sociologists claim that New Age movements appeal more to women?

Answer 17

Because they emphasise ‘feminine’ characteristics such as healing, caring and cooperation

Question 18

Why might minority ethnic groups be more religious?

Answer 18

Religion maintains a sense of community and cultural identity

Question 19

What does Davie suggest about minority ethnic groups being more religious?

Answer 19

Identification with a religious organisations was important to South Asians in the UK because it gave a sense of cultural identity and a feeling of belonging

Question 20

Which class has greater religious participation?

Answer 20

Middle class

Question 21

Which class has greater religious participation?

Answer 21

Middle class