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Sociology of Religion

3. Religion and Social Position

+Outline

Trends in religiosity, in terms of factors such as Class Age Gender Ethnicity

The appeal of new religious movements/New Age movements to different social groups

+Headlines

2011 census (vs 2001)

+Social Class in UK: 7 Classes

+Social class and religion in UK

In UK, no strong relationship between class and religiosity Why? Weaker class identities, religious “shopping around”, …

But … Belief: Jews more middle class Practice: middle classes more regular attendees Employment: Christians have more middle-class jobs Education

Highest: non-religious people Next: Jews and Hindus Lowest: Christians and Muslims

+Socioeconomic factors and religion Religion was a source of status, for upper and middle

classes And a way of reinforcing respectability Now, not so much

High religious affiliation associated with low social deprivation (O’Beirn) except for Muslims

+Age: religious affiliation by year of birth

Source: British Social Attitudes survey 1983-2010, pooled. Based on work by Siobhan McAndrew for British Religion in Numbers

+Age and religiosity

Older people have more religious affiliation Also more likely to believe in God

Consistently, over 60% of young people say they have no religion And increasing numbers of adults

Decline in Sunday school attendance From 55% in 1900 to 4% in 2000

But, little age difference in “basic” Christian beliefs

+Age: Belief in God among old and young (%)

Source: British Social Attitudes survey 2008

+Age: Why the differences?

Religion now has to compete with many other activities Traditional forms of religion struggle

Compare gospel-style service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEAjk-OqNX0

with traditional Anglican service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIIeA1tW1rs

Religions losing ability to control people’s thoughts e.g. fundamentalist beliefs against abortion,

contraception, gays are a “big turn-off” for young people (Robins et al 2002)

Disengagement as people age e.g. due to physical illness

+Gender and religiosity

Women are more religious than men, in all countries and cultures, in all aspects: Affilitation Belief Participation (except Muslims)

Men more likely to be atheistic, agnostic

Long-term trend BUT men monopolise the

positions of authority in religious organisations!

(USA)

+Gender: Why the difference?

Patriarchical society In a male-dominated world, religion provides shelter,

safety, belonging Attractive for women, but price = submission to male

control If raised in more patriarchal family, more likely to accept

Most fundamentalists desire a return to traditional gender roles

Evolutionary psychology: males exhibit more risky behaviour i.e., not believing in God

+Ethnicity and religiosity

Varied levels of religious diversity in different ethnic groups

Big differences in non-religious affiliation

Possible validity issue: “not stated” may include NRMs, etc.

+Religion is important in identity for non-white, non-Christians By ethnic group

Whites: religion is 10th most important aspect of identity

Asians: 2nd most important

By religion Christians: religion is 7th most important

aspect of identity Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus: 2nd most

important

Pakistani and Bangladeshi minorities very religious, and very poor But Christians: middle and upper classes

more religious

+Ethnicity: Why the differences?

Christianity is no longer needed by whites for community, identity (Bruce 1995) e.g., don’t need physical space any more to belong to a

group! Instead Christianity has retreated into the private sphere

except for marriages, deaths, etc.

But for immigrants it is different They come from a place where religion was very important They face a hostile or indifferent world in UK They are in a minority and at odds with the rest of society So they use religion to hang on to sense of cultural and ethnic

identity in their new country

+New Religious Movements (NRMs) Hard to measure, because

There are many and they change a lot, so are hard to classify They are not represented in the traditional list of religions

Seem to appeal most to young, white, middle class females

Why? No consensus … Perhaps because they offer

alternative meanings, life strategies, ethical codes (Chryssides 2000)

Perhaps they appeal to those with ‘subjective deprivation’ No real material deprivation (material needs satisfied) but a

hunger for spiritual fulfillment