1. 3. Religion and Social Position
Sociology of Religion
3. Religion and Social Position

2. 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

3. Headlines
2011 census (vs 2001)

4. Social Class in UK: 7 Classes

5. 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

6. 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

7. Age: religious affiliation by year of birth
Source: British Social Attitudes survey , pooled. Based on work by Siobhan McAndrew for British Religion in Numbers

8. 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

9. Age: Belief in God among old and young (%)
Source: British Social Attitudes survey 2008

10. Age: Why the differences?
Religion now has to compete with many other activities
Traditional forms of religion struggle
Compare gospel-style service
with traditional Anglican service
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

11. 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)

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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