Religious Participation - Social Class Flashcards
What class in mainly associated with attending church?
-Middle class professionals with the manual WC with lowest attendance
What is suggested about the WC and their attendance?
There is a strong ‘belief without belonging’ attitude among them
What are the reasons for class differences in church attendance?
1) Has traditionally been seen as a middle/upper class institution due to its close relationship with the monarchy and state
2) Davie argue the decline in WC attendance is down to mistrust of institutional life
3) MC are more geographically mobile - church offers new people to the area chance of joining community
4) MC use the church as a social event rather than to worship god
What class attracts Denominations and why?
- Appeal mostly to the Skilled WC and lower middle class as they are respectable denominations
What class do sects attract?
Traditionally the most disadvantaged members of society and require them to give up their previous life
What do Glock and Stark say about why people may be attracted to sects?
- People may be attracted to sects as they experience various types of deprivation and social change e.g
1) Economic deprivation - May give them a way of coping with their disadvantages
2) Attracted students who felt they were lacking a spiritual life
3) Religious MC students may be attracted as they believe theres a reason to return to traditional principles as western culture is too dependent on materialism
What Class are cults overwhelmingly made up of?
Middle class
Why does Bruce argue cults attract MC?
1) Interests in the New Age depends on having spare material resources e.g spiritual services such as scientology can be high
2) Appeals to university educated women with expressive professions as they have an interest in human potential
- Confirmed by Kendall project
