How does religion vary with peoples wealth?

Question

I was wondering about this-are people more likely to be Religous if they are from a higher wealth class, are there any statistics and such showing the relationship between wealth, social status and Religion?

Answer 1

There really are conflicting veiws on this, will leave you to read and make up your own mind :) Sources included :)

Sikh, Jewish and Hindu households are the most likely to own their own homes. Around three-quarters or more of each group did so in Great Britain in 2001 (82 per cent, 77 per cent and 74 per cent respectively). Muslim and Buddhist households were the least likely to be homeowners (52 per cent and 54 per cent respectively).
- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=962


In 2004, Muslims had the highest male unemployment rate in Great Britain, at 13 per cent. This was about three times the rate for Christian men (4 per cent). Unemployment rates for men in the other religious groups were between 3 and 8 per cent.
- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=979

In Northern Ireland, unemployment rates among Catholics were higher than those among Protestants for both men and women in 2002/03.
- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=965

Jews, Buddhists and Hindus were more likely than other groups to hold a degree. About four in ten Jews (44 per cent) and three in ten Buddhists (30 per cent) and Hindus (29 per cent) held a degree compared with 22 per cent of people with no religion, 20 per cent of Sikhs and 16 per cent of Christians.
- http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=963

Answer 2

It can depend on what one's religion is used for. Some studies indicate that the poorer or lower class a person is, the more likely he is to be religious because it is one of the few resources he has, not only for supernatural consolation but for social networking as well. People who have wealth and status can be more self-reliant, therefore they don't need God or community to get by. Still, it is a network, so some wealthy people become religious, but they mainly gravitate to feel-good churches that tell them how good they are for resisting illegal drugs, porn and other non-temptations and giving so generously to the church's capital campaign. They tend to be repelled by messages about social justice and God's preferential option for the poor and outcaste.

There are also rich, influential people who feel a great social responsibility and a strong religious challenge, but I don't know how common they are.

Answer 3

From my own experience (in general, I'll list exceptions later): The smarter a person is, the more they believe in science/facts as opposed to religion/faith. GENERALLY, the smarter people in society tend to have more money, and therefore, people who are more religious are in a lower wealth class.

However, there are many high authority religious figures with tons of money, through their religion, relating to their religion, and there are many "religious" rich politicians who try to garner the votes of the lower classes.

Answer 4

I read a study years ago in a class suggesting that the more wealthy a person is, the more he or she will tend toward "liberal" religions (or no religion). Conversely, the poorer people are, the more they will lean toward hardcore fundamentalism (not just within Christianity, but in any religion). I don't know if that's absolutely true, but I do remember reading about that study.

Answer 5

I would think the more poor you are, the more religious you are. You see, your life sucks so bad that you go into denial that this "is all life can be". So you delude yourself to give your brain comfort by saying "I will live forever under this and that god's rules etc.." to deal with it.
There is a very clear correllation between people being very intelligent and not believing in god and people being very unintelligent and believing in god. Which group do you think makes the most $- smart people or stupid people?

Answer 6

religion is totally individual interest. it does not matter how much wealth a person has. there is no necessity that higher class people pray more than the lower.

Answer 7

Wealth (or lack of it) only influences a person's religion if they allow it to.
Whatever is your focus....winds up being your god. You don't necessarily have to be wealthy to worship a "golden idol".......

Answer 8

Wealth and religion, yes. Wealth and salvation, no.

Answer 9

I agree with fish. I also know a lot of "Joel Osteens" who think they are so blessed because they are rich. I don't think you have to be rich to be blessed and have a happy life. Money doesn't equal happiness.

Answer 10

The more money they have, the more powerful they are in the church.