Social Class Flashcards
Church attendance
Ashworth and Farthing
- churchgoing is mainly associated with the MC
- both sexes, those in MC jobs has an above average frequency of church attendance
- those entirely dependent on state benefits (sickness, employment, old age) were the least likely group to attend church
On a Yougov survey in 215 what percentage of regular churchgoers were MC?
62%
What did the 2012 BSA survey find?
73% of skilled manual workers claimed they had never attended a religious service, compared to 63% of professional and managerial workers
How can we criticise the BSA’s research?
Did not focus exclusively on services of religious worship, it also included weddings, christenings and funerals
What 3 observations did Voas and Watt make about churchgoing that may be relevant to social class distinctions?
1- Attendance in rural churches is twice as high as attendance in urban parishes
2- Found some evidence that church attendance is higher in the South of England than in the North and Midlands
3- Noted some growth in CA especially in suburban areas which had academically high-performing church primary and secondary schools
What does Voas and Watt’s research suggest?
That church attendance is higher amongst the MC than the WC
What did Lawes say about religious belief?
Lifelong theists come from semi-skilled and unskilled manual backgrounds
- less likely to have academic qualifications
- contradicts the findings to the church attendance
Lifelong atheists come from higher professional and managerial backgrounds
- more likely to have experiences higher education
How can we criticise Voas and Watt?
We cannot generalise about religiosity and SC other factors may distort the statistics
- Africans, deeper religious faith, live in deprived areas
- immigrant groups are relatively poor and objectively WC
How does economic deprivation relate to SC and religion?
Religion offers divine compensation for their low economic status
- helps them cope with their disadvantages
How does psychic deprivation relate to SC and religion?
Attracts MC university students
- felt disillusioned with the values of the capitalist society and their parent’s culture
- offers an alternative spiritual fulfilment and enlightenment
WALLIS
How does ethical deprivation relate to SC and religion?
Attracts young university educated Muslims
- feel the Western capitalist system is too dependent on materialism and is therefore spiritually corrupt
- attracted to Islamism, return to what they see as traditional values, reclaim the past and attain a sense of certainty on an uncertain world
BRUCE
Case study: Jehovah’s witness
HOLDEN
1- Conversion is presented as a ‘heroic act that requires self sacrifice, courage and conviction
2- Their commitment to the witness theology and ethics assures them of their heavenly salvation
3- Membership of the JW involves a compulsory evangelic role, which instils in them a strong sense of self-worth
What is typical of the JW?
- drawn from skilled WC, the self employed and the lower MC
- jobs that have little interaction
- unfulfilled in their jobs and isolated from others
- disillusion with social, political and economic system
Cults and NAMs
Active participants in cults are overwhelmingly MC because the cost of investing in these spiritual interests can be quite high
What does Bruce say about NAMs?
Argues that they most appeal to those whose material and financial needs are satisfied, but who feel there may be more to life than money
- spiritual deprivation
