7.3.1

Social Groups & Religion

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Social Class and Religion

Statistics show different religious movements attract different social classes.

__Lawes__

Lawes

  • Lawes claims that ‘lifelong theists’ are predominantly from working class backgrounds.
  • Lawes also found that ‘lifelong atheists’ (non-believers) were a minority but tended to be more relevant to those with a middle-class background.
Rural areas

Rural areas

  • Statistics suggest that churches in more affluent, rural areas tend to have higher attendances.
School catchment

School catchment

  • Voas and Watt point out that churches that are affiliated with successful schools tend to have high attendance statistics.
  • This may be due to parents attending the church to ensure that their child gains an advantage in enrolling into the best schools in the local area.
  • Therefore, church attendance does not always mean that a person has religious belief.  
New religious movements

New religious movements

  • Trends suggest that middle class people are more likely to feel attached to traditional churches whereas working class people are drawn more to new religious movements. 
  • This is because new religious movements often lack hierarchy in their structures.
  • Hierarchies can be seen as forms of authority that working-class believers may want to distance themselves from. 

Ethnicity and Religion

Ethnic minorities in the UK are more likely to hold religious beliefs and engage in religious practices than White British. 

__ Modood et al.__

 Modood et al.

  • Ethnic minorities in the UK are more likely to hold religious beliefs and engage in religious practices than White British. 
  • However  Modood et al. suggest that the more generations that exist within a community, the lower their rate of religious participation. 
__Bruce__

Bruce

  • Bruce argues that religion can provide support and a sense of identity when ethnic minority groups come to the UK.
  • He argues ethnic minorities will use religion in one of two ways.
1. Cultural defence

  1. Cultural defence

  • Religion can be used as a way to unite a community against change or hostility from wider society. 
    • For example, African-Caribbean Christians who experience racism can use religion to overcome these barriers. 
  • Cultural defence is a way to protect and defend your heritage when it is under attack. 
2. Cultural transition

  1. Cultural transition

  • Religion is used by ethnic minority groups to help them assimilate into British culture. 
  • This will make the individual feel part of society. 

Age and Religion

Statistics on religious belief and church attendance suggest that the elderly are more religious than any other generation. 

__Voas and Crokett__

Voas and Crokett

  • Statistics on religious belief and church attendance suggest that the elderly are more religious than any other generation. 
  • Voas and Crokett suggest that there are two different explanations behind the elderly’s greater participation in religions. 
1. The ageing effect

  1. The ageing effect

  • The ageing effect:
    • As people come closer to the end of their life, their interest in spirituality and religion increases.
    • This may be due to a growing concern about the afterlife, seeking forgiveness for past sins or seeking company within the church community.
2. The generational or period effect

  1. The generational or period effect

  • The generational or period effect:
    • The current elderly generation may be more religious due to their upbringing which was less secure and more religious than today’s youth.  
Young people and religion

Young people and religion

  •  Some sociologists focus on reasons why the young are less interested in religion and the ‘virtual collapse of religious socialisation.’
Decline of Sunday school

Decline of Sunday school

  • Arweck and Beckford claim that it is increasingly unlikely for parents to pass their religious beliefs to their children.
  • For example traditional Sunday Schools which used to be widespread are now very rare in the UK. 
Increasing individualisation 

Increasing individualisation 

  • Mayo suggests that religion has become a personal choice rather than an enforced aspect of our identities.
  •  Even faith based schools take a more liberal approach to introducing children to religious teachings and tend to focus more on the moral message of the faith. 
  • Therefore younger generations feel less likely obliged to affiliate with religion compared to previous generations. 
Jump to other topics
1

Theory & Methods

1.1

Sociological Theories

1.1.1Marxism1.1.2Feminism1.1.3Social Action Theories
1.2

Sociological Methods

1.2.1Types of Data1.2.2Positivism & Interpretivism1.2.3Research Design1.2.4Research Considerations1.2.5Values in Research1.2.6Modernity & Post-Modernity1.2.7Sociology as a Science1.2.8Sociology & Social Policy1.2.9End of Topic Test - Sociology Methods & Theories
1.3

Sources of Data

1.3.1Introduction1.3.2Experiments1.3.3Surveys1.3.4Longitudinal Studies1.3.5Questionnaires1.3.6Types of Questionnaires1.3.7Interviews1.3.8Observation1.3.9Case Studies1.3.10Documents1.3.11Official Statistics1.3.12End of Topic Test - Sources of Data
2

Education with Methods in Context

2.1

Role & Function of the Education System

2.1.1Introduction2.1.2Functionalist Theories2.1.3Marxist & Feminist Theories2.1.4The New Right
2.2

Educational Achievement

2.2.1Social Class: Internal Factors2.2.2Social Class: External Factors2.2.3Social Class: Attitudes to Education2.2.4Social Class: Difference in Achievement2.2.5Gender2.2.6Ethnicity
2.3

Relationships & Processes Within Schools

2.3.1Processes2.3.2Labelling2.3.3Categorisations2.3.4Student Experience2.3.5End of Topic Test -Education with Methods
2.4

Educational Policies

2.4.1Equality2.4.2Privatisation2.4.3Marketisation2.4.4Government Policies by Party2.4.5Globalisation2.4.6End of Topic Test- Educational Policies2.4.7Practice Exam Question - Social Policies
3

Option 1: Culture & Identity

3.1

Conceptions of Culture

3.1.1Culture3.1.2Mass Culture3.1.3Popular Culture3.1.4Global Culture3.1.5End of Topic Test - Culture and Identity
3.2

Identity & Socialisation

3.2.1Identities3.2.2Socialisation3.2.3Secondary Socialisation3.2.4Theories of Socialisation3.2.5End of Topic Test - Identity3.2.6Practice Exam Question - Socialisation & Equality
3.3

Social Identity

3.3.1Social Class3.3.2Upper & Middle Class3.3.3Working & Underclass3.3.4Social Class Evaluation3.3.5Gender3.3.6Changing Gender Identities3.3.7Ethnicity3.3.8Age3.3.9Disability3.3.10Nationality3.3.11End of Topic Test - Social Identity
3.4

Production, Consumption & Globalisation

3.4.1Production & Consumption3.4.2Globalisation3.4.3Evaluation3.4.4End of Topic Test - Production
4

Option 1: Families & Households

4.1

Families & Households

4.1.1Definitions4.1.2Functionalist & New Right Perspectives4.1.3Marxist & Feminist Perspectives4.1.4Postmodernist Perspective4.1.5End of Topic Test - Families & Households4.1.6Practice Exam Question - Function of Family
4.2

Changing Patterns

4.2.1Marriage4.2.2Divorce4.2.3LAT Relationships4.2.4Child-Bearing4.2.5Lone Parenthood4.2.6Diversity4.2.7The Sociology of Personal Life4.2.8Government Policies Post-WW24.2.9End of Topic Test - Changing Patterns
4.3

The Symmetrical Family

4.3.1The Symmetrical Family4.3.2Evaluation
4.4

Children & Childhood

4.4.1Childhood4.4.2Childhood in the UK4.4.3Childhood as a Social Construct4.4.4The Disappearance of Childhood4.4.5Child Abuse4.4.6Domestic Violence4.4.7End of Topic Test - Family & Childhood
4.5

Demographic Trends UK

4.5.1Introduction4.5.2Birth Rates4.5.3Death Rates4.5.4The Ageing Population4.5.5Studies on the Ageing Population4.5.6Migration4.5.7Globalisation4.5.8End of Topic Test - Demographics UK
5

Option 1: Health

5.1

Social Constructions

5.1.1The Body5.1.2Health, Illness & Disease5.1.3Disability5.1.4Models of Health & Illness5.1.5End of Topic Test - Social Constructions
5.2

Social Distribution of Healthcare

5.2.1Social Class5.2.2Gender5.2.3Ethnicity5.2.4Regional
5.3

Provision & Access to Healthcare

5.3.1The NHS5.3.2Inequalities in Provision5.3.3Sociological Explanations5.3.4Inequalities in Access5.3.5Inequalities in Access 25.3.6End of Topic Test - Distribution Health
5.4

Mental Health

5.4.1The Biomedical Approach5.4.2Social Patterns5.4.3Social Constructionist Approach
5.5

The Globalised Health Industry

5.5.1The Functionalist Approach5.5.2The Postmodernist Approach5.5.3The Globalised Health Industry5.5.4End of Topic Test - Mental Health & Globalisation
6

Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare

6.1

Poverty & Wealth

6.1.1Types of Poverty6.1.2Types of Poverty 26.1.3Distribution of Wealth UK6.1.4Sociological Theories6.1.5Sociological Theories 26.1.6Distribution of Poverty UK6.1.7End of Topic Test - Poverty & Wealth
6.2

Welfare

6.2.1The Welfare State6.2.2Theoretical Approaches to Welfare
6.3

Labour Process

6.3.1Nature of Work6.3.2Technology & Control6.3.3Work & Life6.3.4The Effects of Globalisation6.3.5Globalisation & Worklessness6.3.6End of Topic Test - Welfare & Labour
7

Option 2: Beliefs in Society

7.1

Ideology, Science & Religion

7.1.1Types of Religion7.1.2Ideology & Belief Systems7.1.3Social Stability & Religion7.1.4Social Change & Religion7.1.5End of Topic Test - Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2

Religious Movements

7.2.1Religious Organisations7.2.2New Religious Movements7.2.3New Age Movements7.2.4Practice Exam Question - Growth of NRMs
7.3

Society & Religion

7.3.1Social Groups & Religion7.3.2Gender & Religion7.3.3End of Topic Test- Religious Movements & Society
7.4

Contemporary Religion

7.4.1Secularisation UK7.4.2Against Secularisation7.4.3Secularisation US7.4.4Fundamentalism7.4.5Economic Development & Religion7.4.6End of Topic - Contemporary Religion
8

Option 2: Global Development

8.1

Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality

8.1.1Development8.1.2Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2

Globalisation & Global Organisations

8.2.1Globalisation8.2.2Transnational Corporations & International Agency8.2.3Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
8.3

Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation

8.3.1Development: Aid & Trade8.3.2Development: Industrialisation & Urbanisation8.3.3Development: Environment & War
9

Option 2: The Media

9.1

Contemporary Media

9.1.1New Media9.1.2Control of the Media9.1.3Sociological Approaches: New Media9.1.4Globalisation9.1.5News Selection9.1.6Moral Panics9.1.7End of Topic Test - Contemporary Media
9.2

Media Representations

9.2.1Age9.2.2Social Class & Ethnicity9.2.3Gender9.2.4Sexuality & Disability9.2.5Practice Exam Questions - Presentation of Women
9.3

Audiences

9.3.1Media Theories9.3.2Media Theories 29.3.3Media Representations & Audiences
10

Crime & Deviance

10.1

Crime & Society

10.1.1Functionalism10.1.2Subcultural Theory10.1.3Marxism10.1.4Realism10.1.5Other Approaches10.1.6End of Topic Test - Crime & Society10.1.7Practice Exam Questions - Social Construction
10.2

Social Distribution of Crime

10.2.1Ethnicity10.2.2Gender10.2.3Globalisation & Crime10.2.4Media & Crime10.2.5Types of Crimes10.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Distribution of Crime
10.3

Prevention & Punishment

10.3.1Surveillance10.3.2Prevention10.3.3Punishment10.3.4Victimology10.3.5End of Topic Test - Prevention & Punishment

Practice questions on Social Groups & Religion

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Statistics suggest that churches in which of these areas would have higher attendances?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Who pointed out that churches that are affiliated with successful schools tend to have high attendance statistics?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Why might working class people be more attracted to new religious movements?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Ways ethnic minorities use religion (Bruce):Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Who suggest that there are two different explanations behind the elderly’s greater participation in religions?Multiple choice
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Practice Exam Question - Growth of NRMs

Gender & Religion