by Mark Silva
Here's one to get that red-state, blue-state argument lathered up: Fodder for those Southern conservatives who worry about all those latte-drinking, Volvo-driving liberals from New England.
An analysis of more than 350,000 interviews conducted by the Gallup Poll in 2008 finds that Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas are the most religious states in the nation - based on the question: "Is religion an important part of your daily life?'' And Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts are the least religious.
One red-state stands out among the more liberal states as among the less religious -- Alaska. And one state that stands solidly in the Southern religious corner, North Carolina, voted blue last year, for Barack Obama.
Two thirds of Americans nationally say that religion is an important part of their daily lives.
"The United States is generally a religious nation, although the degree of this religiosity varies across states and regions of the country,'' Gallup reports. "A robust 65 percent of all Americans (across the entire U.S. population) reported in 2008 that religion was important in their daily lives.''
The percentage runs from a high of 85 percent in Mississippi to a low of 42 percent in Vermont. Twenty-three of the 50 states and District of Columbia fall in the 60-70 percent range.
Comments
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
- Steven Weinberg
Posted by: bill r. | January 29, 2009 3:06 PM
I'm more interersted in how these so-called "religious" states do when it comes to walking the walk, not just talking the talk. In other words, what are the rates for teen sex, teen pregnancy, adultery, out-of-wedlock births, child abuse, domestic violence, gangs, guns, tobacco, alcohol, drug use, divorce, etc.
Posted by: Linda Tinjum | January 29, 2009 6:39 PM
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Posted by: bill r. | January 29, 2009 3:06 PM
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That’s funny. Totally counterfactual, but funny.
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“It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.”
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- Winston Churchill
Posted by: John W. | January 29, 2009 7:21 PM
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Posted by: Linda Tinjum | January 29, 2009 6:39 PM
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You seem slightly confused. States don’t walk or talk. People do. Furthermore, States don’t get to decide who stays or leaves. People have the constitutional rights to travel and to reside anywhere they choose within the United States. There is also no practical way to force a given population to conform to the mores of the majority or any single group. That’s a good thing. I mean, two-fifths of Californians are Republican. Need I say more? Consequently, you will search in vain to find “the walk” of any State population that closely matches “the talk” of one political group. Report back here if you find one. Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: John W. | January 29, 2009 8:01 PM
It is a good thing for an uneducated man to read books of quotations.”
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- Winston Churchill
Posted by: John W. | January 29, 2009 7:21 PM
The future ain't what it used to be.
Yogi Berra
Posted by: bill r. | January 29, 2009 10:23 PM
Ha, I heard a story from a good old retired friend that still does some teaching in AR. He tells me that they still practice corporal punishment in the public schools down there.
I'll be the first one to say that there are some inner city schools where that could come in good use, but it is odd to be in the middle and look at both extremes.
Religion was a wonderful tool created before government to organize the masses. It has evolved over the millenia from worshiping the sun to worshiping the son. I can always make the devout shrug their shoulders when they get into a debate with me on theology.
My favorite one for the christians, is where are did all the Native Americans go 500 years ago? They didn't believe in Jesus...hell they didn't even know about him?
What about our fossil record?
Why are there so many contradicting lines in the bible? (oh, that is a funny one to show the hardliners that haven't been exposed to it!)
So, if you are one that needs religion to keep you from killing someone, then by all means, keep going to church. Really. It has its purpose for many people. But, let's realize religion for what it is and what it was. Not all good comes from religion, and some of the most evil people I've met go to church to forgive their sins...then they are back in business Monday morning with a clean slate.
There will be an epiphany in this country when the religious nuts accept their brothers and sisters.
I hope Obama stays out of church...to be honest with you. And you know what, nut jobs? He'll be the same person he was when he went to church. And if he decides in 5 years to go back to church....he'll still be the same person.
The pugs have really issolated theirselves. Apparently you must either be filthy rich, or dirt poor; You must be squeeky clean white; You must live in the south or west; You must be a man; and you must be a Christian......oh and ignorant to boot. It is no wonder they are on their road to extinction, with such brotherly love like that.
Posted by: Xcellentform | January 29, 2009 11:07 PM