Sociologists of religion have argued for some time that churches representing theologically conservative faiths are least likely to engage in political and social activism (Guest and Lee 1987; Hoge and Faue 1973; Kanagy 1992; Hoge et al. 1978). Furthermore, scholars have assumed that if such churches did act, their involvement would be limited to politically conservative causes, such as the New Religious Right (Tamney and Johnson 1990; Johnson 1967). Yet in the last three decades black Pentecostal churches, a most theologically conservative set of institutions, have become more involved in political and social activism. Specifically, they have joined and established local community organizing and economic development programs historically dominated by Catholics and theologically liberal Protestants.(1) In fact, in numerous poor inner city neighborhoods, black Pentecostal churches are key advocates for political, economic, and social change. This new, extroverted activity differs from the more common, introverted forms of black Pentecostal social intervention, which focus almost exclusively on the needs of current church members.
Read the full article by Omar McRoberts in Sociology of Religion (Spring, 1999) at http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SOR/is_1_60/ai_54422499/pg_1.
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