Citation

Flora CB. Sociol. Relig. 1973; 34(4): 296-304.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1973, Association for the Sociology of Religion)

DOI

10.2307/3709732

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

It has long been noted that social dislocation gives rise to mass movements. This paper attempts to relate individual histories of social dislocation to movement adherence, using respondents from Palmira in the Cauca Valley of Colombia. Pentecostalism is viewed as a mass movement, involving working class individuals and total changes in life-style. Multiple regression analysis demonstrates that individuals of low SES who have experienced personal social dislocation in terms of migration and employment are more likely to become Pentecostals than their fellows who have not had similar experiences. Primary ties are also important mechanisms for introducing lower class individuals to Pentecostalism. However, they were no more important for Pentecostals who had not suffered personal dislocation than for those who had.