Greeley (1992) offers another explanation for the more religious orientation of women. He argues that before women acquire a partner and have children, their religiosity is not dissimilar to men’s. But he says, one women start ‘taking care’ of people, you begin to assume greater responsibility for their ultimate welfare. Greeley contends that women are more involved in caring than in practical responsibilities. Caring tends to be associated with a more religious outlook.
Also, it is said that women are more likely to experience poverty than men, and those who experience economic are more likely to join a sect. Thompson (1996) states that ‘they may not have economic and social standing if others in society, but sect members have the promise of salvation and the knowledge that they are enlightened. Glock and Stark (1969) identify a number of different types of deprivation in addition to the economic, all of which are more likely to apply to women. They suggest that people who form or join sects may have experienced one of even a number of these.
Cults involve a highly individual, privatised version of religious activity. This is mainly (although not exclusively) involved with the promotion of a notion of personal improvement. Even where wider issues are addressed, the solutions offered tend to be couched in personal terms. This private sphere of cult activity relates to traditional gender roles for women which are based in the private arena of the home. Women are also more included to see in themselves a need for self improvement.
There are a number of religious organisations including; churches, sects, denominations and cults.
A church aims to be the spiritual home of everybody in society. Membership is open to all and easily obtained. They have a complex, formal hierarchy made up of professional clergy. Churches normally accept the norms and values of the wider society and are often closely linked with society’s major institutions.
Unlike churches, the attitude of sects to the outsides worlds highly exclusive; they erect strong boundaries between themselves and the wider society. Gaining members isn’t a right but has to be earned by personal merit. There is a clear distinction between members and non members. Sects lack a complete hierarchy and depend on the special, god given talent of their members. Also, there is a little use of ritual, and worship is usually spontaneous and expressive. Sects demand high standards of behaviour from their members and high levels of commitment. If members fail to meet the sect’s high standards, they may be punished or even expelled.
Denominations are usually described as part way between church and sect. Although membership is open to all there is no sect-like test of merit. Denominations tend to be disproportionately middle-class. They have a professional clergy but their organisational hierarchy is much less complex than that of the church. Hierarchy is more developed that that of sects. Worship is relatively formal, with less ritual than a church but less spontaneity than in a sect.
Cults are usually open to all and welcome those with a sympathetic interest. Cult organisation is likely to be loose. Their may be a charismatic leader but hierarchies re usually discouraged. Due to the wide range of cults, there is no common orientation to the wider society. Many cults don’t demand high levels of commitment from their followers. They simply ask that people be open to the experiences they offer.
Overall, gender, religious participation and religious organisations are linked in some way, not always good though. Studies show that women are more religious than men, especially when bringing up children. A number of religious organisations allow people to choose their preferred organisation, and depending on the organisation, their involvement in that organisation.