1. Patterns of Religiosity Age, Social Class & Ethnicity

2. Recap Religiosity The importance of religion in somebody’s life. We can use the term to describe how religious a person, group or a society is e.g. We can talk about the religiosity of the contemporary UK.

3. Factors in Religiosity: Pairs In pairs, draw a mind-map or compile a list describing a minimum of six factors that might influence how religious a person is likely to be. You need to be able to briefly justify each one. (5 mins)

4. Explanations for increased religiosity of some groups: Members of deprived groups tend to be more religious due to promises of salvation in the next life, if not the present one. (Weber; 1920) Religion helps bond new communities – particularly those under threat. Provides shared norms and values, expressed through rituals which unite people as a distinct social group. (Durkheim; 1912) Which groups might this particularly apply to?

5. Discuss/Recap How do we measure how religious someone is? What are some potential problems with trying to measure religiosity?

6. 1. RELIGIOSITY & AGE a)What does the graph above show? b)What questions do you need to ask about the statistics?

7. Learning Objectives Confidently identify and describe at least two of the following explanations for patterns of religiosity by age: Patterns of migration. The influence of parents. Faith and home schooling. Coping strategy.

8. Religiosity & Age KEY POINT: In the contemporary UK, young people are less religious than older people across all religious movements......apart from Islam, which has a relatively strong youth following. Discuss: What do we mean by a ‘young person’? At what age does ‘youth’ begin and end?

9. National Statistics Online 23% of 16-34 year olds in the UK claim to have no religion, versus just 5% of those 65+. Remember, however, that belonging and believing are not the same thing (Davie; 1994) Specific religions may have a younger age profile.

10. Homework Read the study on Children & Religious Belief by the JRF (link is on the NC Sociology website). Write a summary (200 words) of what this research showed on children, religion and belonging. Due: Next Lesson

11. Patterns of Migration http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/may/16/uk-census-religion-age- ethnicity-country-of-birth http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/may/16/uk-census-religion-age- ethnicity-country-of-birth Religiosity can be linked to patterns and periods of migration. In the UK, Christians and Jewish people tend to be white and resident in the UK since before World War 2 – thus they have an older age profile. Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims tend to have a slightly younger age profile, due to more recent migration. Within the UK, religiosity lessens with every generation. This can be used in a question on ethnicity as well as a question on age… For homework, please familiarise yourself with the data in the above link!

12. Inheriting Religion (Voas; 2005) The chances of a child adopting religious beliefs and practices is directly related to the religiosity of its parents. Both parents religions = 5 out of 10 children adopt religious beliefs One parent religious = 2.5 out of 10 children adopt religious beliefs Neither parent religious = Less that 1 in 10 children adopt religious beliefs However, religious parents tend to have more children than non-religious parents.

13. Religion & Schooling The type of school a child attends may also impact their religious beliefs. School is the place in which children tend to meet children of other faiths and will learn about a variety of religious in RE classes etc. Discuss: How might Home Schooling and Faith Schools impact a child’s religious beliefs?

14. Religiosity & Old Age Most evidence suggests that the older generation are more spiritual than the younger generations. McKingsley (2001) identified that religion was used as coping strategy by those aged 85+. However, religion is declining in the UK amongst all age categories.

15. 2. RELIGIOSITY & ETHNICITY

16. Learning Objectives Confidently identify and describe two of the following explanations for patterns of religiosity by ethnicity: Single faith schools Empowerment by difference Othering Control, independence and hope to vulnerable communities Present a profile of one of the UK’s major religious groups

17. Religiosity & Ethnicity KEY POINT: In the contemporary UK, ethnic minorities tend to be more religious than members of the ‘dominant’ ethnic group.

18. Small Group Research Sikh – Muslim – Hindu – Christian – Jew In groups, select one of the above and find out: How many are practising in UK? What is their age profile? Types of religious buildings they practice in, and how many such buildings there are in the UK? How and when did they arrive in the UK? Some specific details about their faiths/beliefs/traditions?

19. Generational Decline in Religiosity Modood (1994) The importance of religion is declining in all ethnic groups (within the UK). Many of those who remain religious are demanding more flexible readings of scriptures/traditions. Fewer Second Generation respondents regularly attend temples/churches etc.

20. Single-Faith Schools It is argued that faith schools are a response to secularization. Faith schools can strengthen religious commitment and ethnic identity. In pairs, list at least five positive and five negative points about the existence of faith schools within the contemporary UK (5 mins)

21. Religion vs. Racism Johal (1988) argued that many British Asians uphold the religious and cultural practices of their parents as a way of strengthening their identity and resisting racism. Johal refers to this as an empowerment through difference. Discuss: What do you think ‘empowerment through difference’ means? How is Johal’s study contradicted by Modood’s work?

22. Religion, Ethnicity & Cultural Conflict Dominant cultures are often hostile to minority cultures, believing they should assimilate. In the UK, some are seen as refusing to assimilate due to particular religious practices or beliefs e.g. Arranged marriages Refusal of Sikhs to wear motorcycle helmets Growth in number of mosques etc.

23. Muslims in the UK 33% of British Muslims are under 15 and 50% are under 25. The youngest age profile for any UK religion. Islam is an important source of identity for young Pakistanis (Jacobson; 1998) Young British Muslims are moving from an ethnic identity to a religious identity (Samad; 2006)

24. Muslims in the UK Akhtar (2005) Muslims have been othered in the West. Religion offers young Muslims belonging and solidarity. Religion also provides political mobilisation: Radical groups have turned this to their advantage.

25. Black Pentecostalism http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/pentecostal_1.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/pentecostal_1.shtml In the UK, Pentecostalism is very strong among black communities and is the fastest growing Christian movement. Beckford (2000) believes it offers control to those who feel they lack power. It gives people a sense of independence and hope. It also portrays wealth positively and as something to aspire to. The link at the top of the page will give you more info on pentecostalism

26. Glossary Check: Which of the following can you define? Assimilate Cultural Hybridity Empowerment Halal Food Islamaphobia Othering Religious Identity Pentecostalism

27. Written Task Identify and explain two reasons why some ethnic groups are more religious than others in the contemporary UK [17] 15 mins

28. 3. RELIGIOSITY & SOCIAL CLASS

29. Learning Objectives Confidently identify and describe two of the following explanations for patterns of religiosity by social class: Appeal of different types of religious organisation Relative deprivation Believing without belonging

30. Religiosity & Social Class KEY POINT: In the contemporary UK, the middle classes tend to be more religious than the working classes. Note: In a question on Social Class, you are encouraged to refer to Marxist ideas…although this key point does directly contradict them!

31. Social Class – Church, Sect, cult & Denomination Churches traditionally appeal to the upper classes, due to their close links to the State. Denominations – predominantly appeal to the middle classes, due to their conservative nature (though they do have members from all classes). Sects & Cults – Weber would argue they appeal most to the working class, as they tend to attract marginalised people. However, it depends entirely on the sect/cult (though every sect/cult seems to contain only one social class).

32. Relative Deprivation & Fundamentalism Fundamentalism often attracts members of the middle classes. People remember times when their communities were stronger, and they blame modernity and Western consumerism for the breakdown of those communities. Though they are well-off, they feel relatively deprived e.g. in some ways, they were better off before. Hence, religious fundamentalism seems attractive (Bruce; 2002)

33. Class & Religious Belief The working class are less likely to attend church than the middle class......However, this might not mean they do not have religious beliefs. Davie (1994) claimed the working class were more likely to believe without belonging. Most New Age movements tend to attract the middle classes; people who have money are more likely to look for other ways of fulfilment. Different types of NRM attract different social classes.

34. Homework Revise this section of the unit in preparation for a Progress Test next lesson! Check all moodle resources Check the NC Sociology website for resources, tasks and updates