Religion and social groups

Question 1

What does CAGE stand for ?

Answer 1

• Class
• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity

Question 2

What is the relationship between religion and social class according to marxists ?

Answer 2

• According to marxists religion legitimises capitalism which enables class inequality eg
• instrument of oppression - a tool for the ruling class to exploit the working class
• cushions the affects - opium of the people
• Neo marxs - liberate the oppressed- muduro - liberation theology

Question 3

What is the relationship between religious organisations and social class ?

Answer 3

• Churches and denominations have a more appealing relationship to middle class citizens because of formality this suggests that churches adopt middle class values therefore appeal more to the working class this is because bishops and priests go to valued educational institutions such as Oxbridge and oxford making them more relatable with the middle class for example YOU GOV in 2015 found that more than 60% of people who attended church were middle class which was further suggested by Ashworth and Farthing who argued that those in good Woking positions such as managing roles are more likely to attend church that the poorest in society.

Question 4

Who supports the view that those in high positions in society are more likely to go to church ?

Answer 4

Ashworth and Farthing

Question 5

What is the amount of middle class people who are more likely to attend church ?

Answer 5

60% according to you gov

Question 6

Why are denominations more appealing to the working class ?

Answer 6

• Denominations are more appealing to the working class because they are less heavily linked to the state according to Niebur who suggests that denominations appeal more to the working class and those who feel the most marginalised in society there oppression and exploitation makes them more vulnerable

Question 7

Who suggests that denominations are more appealing to those in mainstream society ?

Answer 7

Niebur suggests that denominations appeal to the more marginalised , oppressed members in society who are tired of there exploitation

Question 8

What social class will be more attracted to sects ?

Answer 8

• The most marginalised , deprived social groups such as the lower class and the working class because they use sects to cope with being disadvantaged in society this is known as a theodicy of disprivilege for example the peoples temple , isis , the nation of islam these religious organisations appeal more because of peoples frustration with there exploitation

Question 9

Who suggests a concept that sects are used as a means with coping with with their disadvantage ?

Answer 9

• Weber- he calls this a theodicy of disprivilege

- Marx- reflects marxs idea of religion numbing the pain of oppression

Question 10

Who suggests a concept that sects are used as a means with coping with with their disadvantage ?

Answer 10

• Weber- he calls this a theodicy of disprivilege

- Marx- reflects marxs idea of religion numbing the pain of oppression

Question 11

What are some examples of sects that attract marginalised groups ?

Answer 11

• Peoples temples
• isis
• Nation of islam -
• Heavens gate

Question 12

Do sects always attract working class people ?

Answer 12

No, Some sects attract younger , middle classed people who desire to make a change who recognise the injustice and inequalities in society for example

Question 13

What social class appeals to cults ?

Answer 13

New age movements and cults are often followed by the middle class according to bruce and heelas they appeal to the middle class because they are fulfilled in other areas of life but use spirituality to fill void that they feel they are missing. this is because its more accessible to them then it is to working class people they may not have the time , extra finances for example yoga , aromatherapy

Question 14

What are some examples of cults and new age movements that attract middle class people ?

Answer 14

• Yoga

- Aromatherapy

Question 15

Are there any forms of spirituality that working class people engage in ?

Answer 15

• Astrology specifically today - stems from buddism- can be used as a coping mechanism with exploitation eg the concept of manifesting

Question 15

Are there any forms of spirituality that working class people engage in ?

Answer 15

• Astrology specifically today - stems from buddism- can be used as a coping mechanism with exploitation eg the concept of manifesting

Question 16

What does multi facetal mean ?

Answer 16

• This refers to something with many features eg cults fill a void and

Question 17

What does Multi- casual mean ?

Answer 17

more than one cause for example

Question 18

What do stats suggest about religious organisations and age ?

Answer 18

you gov - suggests that the older generation are much more religious than younger people for example younger people are much more likely to have no religious affiliation compared top older people for example 65% of 60 year olds are religious compared with the 26% 25-39 year olds that claim to be religious

Question 19

What is the aging effect ?

Answer 19

the aging effect is the idea that people turn to religion as they get older eg in death and ill health

Question 20

What is the generational effect ?

Answer 20

The generational effect is the idea that as society gets more secular religion becomes less important because of the lack of religious socialisation and religion becoming less attractive

Question 21

Explain the ageing effect

Answer 21

• Because as people get older they may get more interested in religion as approaching death or ill health and want to secure a place in an afterlife therefore they may turn to religion as a source of comfort and support. Religion also provides meaning and answers to questions about loss and the afterlife and as older people feel disengaged from society religion fils that void

Question 22

What does older people becoming more disengaged from society link to why older people are more religious ?

Answer 22

• Older people becoming more religious as they get more disengaged from society contributes to why they are more religious because they reach a point in there life where society is moving forward and they cant keep up which means that they become more disengaged from society and a social life therefore need religion to provide meaning

Question 23

Explain the generational effect.

Answer 23

The generational effect is the idea that as time goes on the younger generation get less religious because of the lack of religious socialisation eg children are less likely o be socialised into a religious environment, go to a faith school ,etc this is a result of secularisation religious institutions losing their influence on wider society.

• According to Voas and crockett the generational effect is the most influential factor influencing patterns of religiosity between age groups

Question 24

Who argues that the generational effect is a significant factor in explaining the patterns of religiosity

Answer 24

VOAS AND CROCKETT

Question 25

Are there any other explanations on why young people are more religious today ?

Answer 25

• Religion is less attractive - young people see it as an institution that infringes peoples rights and goes against todays societal norms and values eg views on abortion , same sec elationships , marriages , gay rights etc young people today are more interested in the spread of liberal values not conservative , regressive traditions
• Secular spirituality- l( the idea that there is a search for meanings outside religion eg it considers relationships with self , others , nature etc) which suggests that young people are finding new forms of religion not losing all sense of religiosity as suggested by LYNCH
• Practical reasons - eg time - young people have much more demands on there time than older people eg studying whilst in part time work , similarly leisure activities such as shopping and clubbing that may be important to young people etc

Question 26

What are some evaluations for the trends in age and religion ?

Answer 26

• Although young people may not be actively attending church does not mean that they are not religious , they may be practicing religion in a personal way davie calls this belief without belonging
• Young people may be less willing to admit that they are religious on a surey
• Although Christianity attracts a older audience Islam does not for example in Islam young people are more likely to identify as Muslim than older people
• Lynch suggests that young people aren’t interested in traditional religions anymore they are attracted o spirituality in new forms such as NAM’s this is known as a spiritual marketplace because there is me

Question 27

What are the trends of religiosity and gender

Answer 27

• Women participate more in religion

- Men are in the higher positions in religious organisations

Question 28

What are some stats of the trends between religion and gender ?

Answer 28

• 65% of women are members of congregations at uk churches
• 65% of women say they are religious compared with the 41% men
• 30% of women attend church monthly compared with the 17% men in the uk

Question 29

What are some stats of the trends between religion and gender ?

Answer 29

• 65% of women are members of congregations at uk churches
• 65% of women say they are religious compared with the 41% men
• 30% of women attend church monthly compared with the 17% men in the uk

Question 30

Give three points on why women are more religious than men

Answer 30

• Due to women’s isolation from secularisation- because women have been constrained to the sphere of the house they have been impacted less by new ideas and attitudes of thoes in the public sphere .Trzebiatowska and bruce argue that men have been influenced by growing secularisation of society before women
• Womens traditional role in the family - because the traditional role of women in the family is the caregiver role which makes them responsible for primary socialisation functions attending church and participating in other religious activities is seen as a part of a women’s role in instilling good morals and values into their children. according to miller and Hoffman
• Due to poverty , marginality and social deprivation - women are more likley to experience poverty and marginality because of social deprivation , this is because in a patriarchal society women lack power and status therefore like the working class women use religion as a way of coping and understanding their oppression as religion offers a theodicy of deprivilege

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Question 31

Summarise three explanations on why women are more religious than men .

Answer 31

1- Women’s isolation from secularisation - due to women being constrained to the household they are nt impacted by the changing attitudes of the public sphere. according to tezbiatowska and bruce

2. Women’s traditional role in the family - women use religion as a way of instilling good moral values and principles into children because there main role is to be the care giver and therefore are responsible for primary socialisation. Miller and hoffman
3. Poverty and marginality- due to a patriarchal society women lack power and status which means they turn to religion as a theodicy of disprivillage where religion is used to cope with oppression and understanding their place in society

Question 32

What does miller and Hoffman suggest ?

Answer 32

Miller and Hoffman can be used to describe why women are more religious than men because women are known as guardians of the family

Question 33

What do Bruce and Trezbiatowska ?

Answer 33

men have been influenced by growing secularisation of society before women

Question 34

What is an evaluation point to women being more religious than men

Answer 34

• The main points that look at religiosity between men and women focus on ideas of western Christianity however amongst jews , muslims and hindus men are actually more religious than women in terms of attending church service and worship

Question 35

What is the overall trend amongst ethnicity regarding religion ?

Answer 35

• BAME tend to be more religious than the white majority

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Question 36

What is an ethnic group ?

Answer 36

An ethnic group is a way that people who share the same culture , traditions , norms and values and way of life are classified and religion places an role in this

Question 37

Name some ethnic groups and what they are associated with religiously.

Answer 37

African Caribbean- associated with british society where religion is a matter of choice rather than ethnic expression.- strong beliefs in pentecostalism and rastafarinsism - Pentecostal Christianity seen as a response to racism and segregation in white british churches

Asian groups Pakistan , Bangledeshi , Indian - religion provides a sense of culture and identity in a society that supports liberal values which often contradicts there own religious beliefs which often leads to hybrid identities (Johal)- islam around 5% of popualtion muslim

Question 38

Give some reasons on why ethnic minority groups are more religious.

Answer 38

1- Because many ethnic minorities originate from countries that have high levels of religiosity

2. Cultural defence - Bruce argues that religion acts as a culture defence that provides a source of support and an identity in times of uncertainty and potential racism that is faced when joining a new society. Reinforced through Pentecostalism
3. Cultural transition - Religion can ease the transition into a new culture , religious organisations can help others to settle by providing practical support. for many muslims , sikih and hindi migrants religious organisation’s have become a source of support when adjusting to a new society

Question 39

Who argues that religion acts as a cultural defence ?

Answer 39

• Bruce

Question 40

Why does social deprivation , marginality and status frustration lead to ethnic minorities being more religious than white groups

Answer 40

• Because members of ethnic groups are more likely to be the poorest and disproportionately amongst the poor and disadvantaged