Church

Membership

Churches are large organisation’s often with millions of members such as the Catholic

Church. Memberships vary depending on the type of church you attend; they normally just

expect you to attend every Sunday. Members of the church have to carry out simple tasks

such as preserving the peace, harmony and unity of the body as well as harmony and purity

in the church. Members mainly join from birth and are likely to follow the parent’s religion.

Then when they reach a certain age they can either continue to practise their religion or

rebel and break away from that religion.

Social class

The church mainly attracts the middle class. Some people believe that the church is turning

its back on the working classes and therefore numbers of those that attend church has

dropped in the last few years.

Relationship to the state

The relationship to the state is close as the head of the church is the queen who is also head

of the state. The relationship to the church closely follows the norms and values of society

because the church is seen as a good place.

Structure

It’s run on a strict hierarchy of paid clergy. This means they are paid by the church. However

many minsters aren’t paid. The church obtains its income by donations and gifts.

Claim regarding religious truth

Christians who attend church do believe that their religion is the only true religion and that

it will take them to heaven. They reject cults and other denominations.