Image of God and Religious Ideology and Involvement: A Partial Test of Hill's Southern Culture-Religion Thesis

Abstract

A trait of southern religion identified by Hill is its close relationship with southern secular culture. The religious factor in the South is filtered through cultural experience. Various observers have noted the conservative religious ideology found in the South; and researchers have linked the image of God (as punishing) with sectarianism. Using data collected from students attending a regional, state university in the Upper South, three hypotheses were given support: (1) that secrtarianism and the holding of an Old Testament view of God are related; (2) that the holding of such an image of God, which is part of southern culture, is unrelated to religious attendance; and (3) that holding a New Testament image of God as merciful is related to religious attendance because this conception is part of the specific religious culture. Hill's thesis concerning the closeness of the general southern culture and southern religion finds support. One problem area for the consequential dimension of southern culture-religion is suggested.