Religion and social groups

Question 1

What does CAGE stand for?

Answer 1

• Class
• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity

Question 2

What is the general idea of social class and religion?

Answer 2

It is hard to measure and define social class to determine which group is more religious eg according to Neo Marxists religion can be used by the working class to create social change, make their voices heard where as Traditional marxists would argue that religion is used by the ruling class to create false class consciousness and cushion the effects of oppression

Question 3

Is there an argument that shows that different social classes are attracted to different types of religious organisations?

Answer 3

Yes, there is a strong argument that different social classes are attracted to different religious organisations eg Churches and denominations attract a middle class audience because there is familiarity

Question 4

What is meant by Multi faecal ?

Answer 4

this refers to an organisation that has more than one element to it eg cults , these fill a vacume

Question 5

What is meant by multi casual ?

Answer 5

• This refers to an religious organisation having more than one cause

Question 6

What is the correlation between churches and denominations and social class?

Answer 6

• Evidence from a Yougov survey conducted in 2015 found that 60% of people who regularly attend church are middle class and only 38% are working class
• Ashworth and Farthing found that professional occupations such as mangers are more likely to attend church than the poorest members of society

Question 7

Why do churches and denominations attract middle class people?

Answer 7

• Because they familiar with the state and because of the strong correlation between the state and the ruling class means that churches appeal more to the middle class
• Another reason is because of the background of the majority of priests and bishops they have middle class backgrounds eg they go to top schools such as Oxbridge reinforces the elitist nature of the ruling class as traditional marxitsts would argue

Question 8

What is the correlation between the working class and denominations?

Answer 8

Because of the nature of denominations and its rebel/ conflict with wider society it appeals more to working class members who feel exploited and are oppressed by mainstream society. 
According to Neiburh who suggests that denominations are less heavily linked with the state which appeals to the marginalised members of society

Question 9

What is the correlation between Sects and social class?

Answer 9

The correlation between sects and social class is that sects appeal to the working class who use sects to cope with their disadvantages which is why sects attract the most deprived and marginalised members in society 
- This reflects the concept that was described by WEber as Theodicy of disprivilege ( justifies poverty)

Question 10

What are some examples of NRMS that appeal to marginalised and oppressed people?

Answer 10

• Heavens gate
• Peoples temple
• ISIS
• Nation of islam

Question 11

What is the counter argument of sects?

Question 12

What are the patterns of religiosity

between age groups?

Answer 12

• Generally older people are more religious than the younger generation
• Young people are interested in spirituality/ NRMS rather than traditional forms of religion such as churches or denominations

Question 13

What are the patterns of religiosity between social classes?

Answer 13

• Middle class are more likely to be attracted to traditional forms of religion such as the church of england
• Working class more attracted to CULTS and sects because they understand their oppression and use these as forms to cope with their oppression

Question 14

What do YouGov stats tell us about the connection between religion and Age?

Answer 14

AS people get older they get more religious eg 66% of 60+ year olds are religious compared with the 20% of 18-24 year olds regarding Christianity

Question 15

What is meant by the Aging effect?

Answer 15

This means that people turn to religion as they get older this is because they are more likely to expereince death and ill health or feel a disengagement from society

Question 16

What is meant by the generational affect?

Answer 16

The generational affect means that as society becomes more secular generations become less religious this is because of the lack of religious socialisation

Question 17

Why may older people turn to religion as they get older?

Answer 17

Because religion provides meaning and answers to questions about loss and the afterlife this means that religion provides a source of comfort and support for the elderly

Question 18

What do Voas and Crockett suggest about religion regarding the generational effect?

Answer 18

• Voas and Crockett argue that the generational effect is the most influential factor in discussing the patterns of religiosity between age groups because it explains why as generations keep going religious socilaization declines

Question 19

What are other explanations for why young people are less religious?

Answer 19

• Religion becoming less attractive because of the opinions against social norms today such as women’s rights , views on abortion , sex , marriage etc
• Secular spirituality- this idea has been suggested by LYnch who argues that young people are finding new forms of religion not lost all sense of religiosity
• Practical reasons such as the i increased living standards there may be part time work to pay education , social pressures, increased lesure that demand the time of young people

Question 20

What are some evaluation points on AGE and religiosity?

Answer 20

• In other forms of religion such as islam young people are just as likely to label themselves as religious/ muslim unlike chirtsinity where their is a clear decline in religious beliefs for young people
• Although there is a decline in young peoples engagement in traditional religions Lynch suggests that young people are more spiritual and are attracted to new religious movements that offer more choice
• Davie would suggest that young people do practice religion but in a private personal way he calls this belief without belonging

Question 21

What are the patterns between gender and religiosity ?

Answer 21

• Generally women are more religious than men even though religion tends to disadvantage women more than men
• ## Those in positions of power in religion are more likely to be men but women attend church etc more than men

Question 22

Give evidence on the argument that women are more religious then men

Answer 22

• 65% of women are members of congregations at churches in the UK
• UCL institute of eductaion in 2015 surveyed that 54% of men confirmed they were atheist compared with the 34% of women
• A 2013 report by the charity TearFund found that UK churches are attended by 65% women and
  35% men.