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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