Citation

Ammerman NT. Sociol. Relig. 1980; 41(4): 339-350.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Association for the Sociology of Religion)

DOI

10.2307/3709888

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Seventy-two of Tusscaloosa, Alabama's white clergymen were interviewed regarding the civil rights movement and integration in their community. Individual backgrounds and current social situations were examined as predictors of involvement in the Movement. Localism was also tested as a predictor, allowing for the possibility that localism and civil rights involvement are reciprocally linked, changing simultaneously. The data were analyzed using a two-stage least squares model, with localism and civil rights activism as dependent variables.
Civil rights activism was shown to be the strongest predictor of decreased localism, mediating the effects of education and urban backgrounds. For the minority of these clergymen who were active in the movement, a supportive reference group of clergy colleagues and mainline denominations was important. This countered their isolation from the rest of the religious community and lack of agreement with their laity. This minority represents an important alternative definition of the Southern religious world.