ABSTRACT
The behaviour and attitudes exhibited by an individual are an admixture of his current situation and other situations through which he has passed which lead him to expect certain kinds of reactions, which in turn lead him to explain events in particular ways. The so-called socio-demographic variables so common to sociological analysis, such as age, sex, social class, are used as secondary indicators of complex social processes. Age has traditionally been accredited as an important category which can help people to explain beliefs and attitudes. A religious functionary might be middle-aged yet have only recently been ordained into his chosen Church; the years that the clergy, priests and ministers have been ordained, therefore, is a crucial statistic informing people of the degree of experience they have of their chosen vocation. The number of positions and incumbencies that clergy, priests and ministers have held provide further evidence of experience, of the length and depth of careers.
