Sociology of Religion

1. 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 1983-2010, 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 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

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