In relation to this, Bird 1999 agreed saying that for some Pentecostalism has provided African Caribbean’s with an ability to cope and adjust to a racist and unjust society. Beckford likewise suggested that evangelical Christianity gives Black people a sense of hope and independence. The religion they follow encourages hard work, sexual morality, prudent management of finances and strong support of family, all of which encourage self fulfilment and pride. However it can be argued that by helping people into society, that is all it is, help. Bruce states that this is not someone expressing their religious belief; the actual practice of religious belief is what defines the religiosity of a person. Even though church attendance is falling however, this does not mean the religiosity of our society is too decreasing. Followers may choose to pray at home, as a such varied and diverse societies provides many time constraints on members, however this makes them no less religious. Infact in 1980, 42% of people said they belonged to a religion, which had not risen or fell when asked again in 1998.
This is similar to Karl Marx’ theory that these attributes act as an ‘opium for the people’ allowing the bourgeoisie to survive in a capitalist world which oppresses them. These affected are therefore unaware of the unjust society that they are living in, however it is stated that religion for some acts as an escape route. Women for instance prove to be more religious then men. Marxist feminist feel that it is women who are oppressed by men in a continuous patriarchal society, therefore they may turn to religion as a way of escape. However, women’s church attendance is in decline due to the inherently sexist hierarchies and male dominance within the church. They are instead turning to New Age Movements which offer more freedom and choice, with 80% of them being made up of women according to Paul Heelas’ Kendal Project.
In relation to this, certain new age movements such as the world rejecting groups attract the youth, who lack adult like qualities but are no longer children. By joining these groups they feel as though they are becoming part of a community with others who feel that they too are unattached from adulthood and childhood. In joining these groups they feel as though their social and personal problems will be solved. This type of group structures its members lives in a more extreme way then other religions may provide. World rejecting groups often strip its members of their former identities, to try and make them “become as one”. Personal possessions are often taken away or shared with one another, and high levels of commitment are enforced along with strong ethical codes. This style of practice may be found in world rejecting groups such as the Moonies.
As seen above it is clear that religion sometimes goes beyond belief and seems to actually control what occurs within a member’s life. For example in Islamic religions many young females feel that hey are becoming a subject of oppression, as even in a western culture many still have to follow the strict dress and marriage restrictions that their parents before them followed. The religion is expected to be carried on through into adulthood, and it seen as a betrayal if this is not the case. Conforming to the Islamic way of life is norm; this enforces strict ways of life in relation to alcohol, food, dress and choice of marital partner. In relation to this worship can be defined as one of the strongest parts of a religion. In some cases it can really change somebody’s life. For example Muslims pray 5 times a day, which is a lot of time dedicated to prayer. It is true therefore that his would determine the structure of a members life.
Postmodernists predicted resurgence in religion as people moved beyond the modern world and no longer trusted science and technology due to failures such as being unable to cure certain diseases. This is evidenced by the popularity of fundamentalist religious movements, particularly the Christian New Right in the US, which help people make sense of modern life and confusing aspects such as ‘incessant choice’ but giving clear guidelines.
However, there are many different forms of religion and religious worship. Many people worship at home, alone or within the family, which is presumably purely due to their beliefs as there is no community aspect. 42% of people say that they ‘belong to a religion’ but only 8% of adults attend church. Furthermore, for many of those who participate in communal worship, being part of a community and the support offered is due to their shared beliefs. If religion was not due to belief the religious community would not be as close knit as the members would have little in common, thus making the community factor redundant. Therefore, is it arguable that belief is the cause of their religiosity and the other factors are merely positive side effects.
In the past, many people attended church to meet social expectations. In modern society, however, Steve Bruce accepts that religion can remain an important part of individual beliefs, but feels that religion has lost its social and political influence.
To conclude, sociological evidence strongly supports the claim that there is more to religion than just belief, as those who participate in religion do so due to reasons such as wanting to be accepted, to be part of the community, to meet social expectations or to escape oppression. However, belief must be the main aspect of religion, otherwise people would gains support and assert their identity via other, non-religious organisations.
