Final answer:
The paragraph critiques the white religious institutions in the South for their passive stance and lack of support for racial justice during the Civil Rights Movement.
Explanation:
The main idea of the paragraph is a critical reflection on the silence and complicity of the white religious institutions in the South during the Civil Rights Movement. The author expresses disappointment in the lack of moral support from religious leaders when it came to issues of racial justice and integration. Despite the elegant churches and extensive religious education buildings across Alabama, Mississippi, and other Southern states, the author questions the values of those who worship there, especially in light of their inaction and silence during times of racial tension and injustice.