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Social Groups - CAGE - Coggle Diagram
Social Groups - CAGE
Social Class
Marx: Religion serves to maintain class inequality and the capitalist economic system. It 'cushions oppression' by making w/c feel better about their oppressed situation. Religion as 'opium of the masses'. Biblical quotes 'Blessed are the poor' promise salvation as a form of social control and redress for injustice in the afterlife. It acts as an 'instrument of oppression' by keeping w/c in their place, distorting perception of reality. Religion is an ideological weapon justifying the suffering of the poor as something inevitable and God given.
Ex, Hindu Caste system, individuals taught to accept their lower class position. Doctrine of Karma teaches if you behave well you'll be reincarnated into higher caste.
Norris and Inglehart Argue poorer countries are more reliant on traditional religions in place of security. In countries with high levels of inequality religion is particularly important as a form of security.
Weber argues:
W/C: Sects appeal to groups who are marginalised and aren't receiving economic rewards of social status offering 'a theodicy of deprivilege'. Evangelical sects offer 'gifts of spirit' would be embraced by the economically deprived.
M/C: Protestant ethic shows entrepreneurs of emerging m/c developed capitalism through religious zeal. So there's a link between economy and religious faith back by Nanda on Ultra Hinduism. M/c are more likely to participate in church of England services. Elite are often presented as the religious establishment. Ex, church of England services attendees are televised if they're royalty/parliamentarians.
NRMs and Social Class
NRMs can appeal to m/c as they overcome feelings of relative deprivation (S&B). M/c are materially well off, they may feel spiritually deprived in today's materialistic consumerist world. World Affirming NRMs offer knowledge to the m/c to achieve main stream goals (Scientology). High subscriptions make these new religions exclusive to wealthy.
World rejecting NRMs such as Moonies and Scientology have been found to target younger, m/c individuals - appeal is that they offer friendship, support and promise of success. NRMs and NAMs can fill a spiritual gap in the lives of those who have already benefitted from a capitalist structure.
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Gender
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Davie argues women are closer to questions of life and death - as women often fulfil carer roles, they are closer to questions of life and death and are more likely to think about the ultimate 'questions' about the meaning of life.
NAMs and social groups
Women are likely to engage in NAMs as they're associated with 'nature' ex. childbirth. Movements often celebrate the natural and involve cuts of healing, which give women a higher status and sense of self worth. Emphasises importance of being authentic and subjective experiences women go through.
Social class has affect on women's attendance. W/c women tend to follow religious groups where they're more passive (fortune telling, charms, superstition). Whereas m/c women are more interested in forms of spirituality that facilitate personal growth.
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Maybe due to pressures of home, family or work life
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Sunday working is particularly high; women have begun to reject traditional subordinate gender roles
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