Social Groups - CAGE and religiosity

Middle Class

More likely to be involved in NAM’s and world accepting NRM’s as helps to deal with spiritual void. Have highest church attendance

Marx - social class

Working class are ideologically controlled by religion to obey capitalists/capitalism

Weber - social class

‘Theodicy of disprivilege’ - WC see sects as providing justification and answers for their disadvantages (more likely to join world rejecting sect)

Norris and Inglehart - social class

Existential security theory - poorer, more likely to be religious because existence is more threatened.

Wallis - age

Young people like world rejecting NRM’s as young people have less commitments and feel disatisfied so rebel

Voas and Crockett - age

Secularisation - each generation becomes less religious than the one before. Older are more likely to be religious.

Ageing effect - As approaching death, people more concerned about the afterlife so look to religion more

Miller and Hoffman - Gender

Gendered attendance - Women are more likely to be religious as socialised to be more obedient and caring which are qualities often favoured by religions

Bruce - gender

Womens lesser involvement in paid work means have more time to get involved in religion and attend church more

Davie - gender

Women are closer to questions of life and death (pregnancy, looking after elderly) so are more religious

Heelas and Woodhead - Gender

The Kendal Project: 80% involved in holistic milieu in Kendal were female. Often appeal to women due to focus on inner self rather than restricted social roles

Bruce - Ethnicity

High levels of ethnic minority engagement in religion

Cultural defence - religion offers cultural identity in a hostile environment, helps cope with oppression in racist society

Cultural transition - Religion is means of easing transition to a new culture, providing support and community for ethnic minority groups

Norris and Inglehart - Ethnicity

Existential security theory - racism means their existence so may feel threatened so turn to religion

Migration - Ethnicity

If have migrated to the UK, may have migrated from a country with higher religiosity