Age And Religiosity

Question 1

Disengagement

Answer 1

As people get old they become detached from the integrating mechanisms of society such as participation in work. Older people face the privatisation of their lives as their friends die and they become socially isolated. Participation in religious groups provides social support

Question 2

Evaluation of disengagement

Answer 2

Functionalists would argue that religion is providing the social glue that binds communities together as older people have more time on their hands and they can turn to religious organisations and feel a sense of belonging to this group

Question 3

Religious socialisation

Answer 3

As society become more secular each new generation is less religious than before. Thus there are more old people in church than young people. Young people aren’t attracted to religion but old people grew up during a time where religion was popular and was a key part of their education.

Question 4

Evaluation of religious socialisation

Answer 4

This is weak religion as most people lose religiosity mid life and then turn back to it when they’re older as people today don’t want to commit to religion for a whole lifetime

Question 5

ill health and death

Answer 5

Older people face declining health and death looms on the horizon. They then turn to religion as it provides comfort and a way to cope. When we approach death we become more invested in ideas such as the afterlife.

Question 6

Evaluation of ill health and death

Answer 6

Weber argues that Poole today are more likely to turn to medical science and therapy to help them deal with bad health. This is rationalisation