If you’re wondering which cities in the United States could be considered the most religious, you may be interested in a recent survey (piece of research where many people are asked the same questions) released by the American Bible Society (ABS). The ABS is a non-profit (not intended to make money) organization that distributes (gives to people) Bibles and Bible-related materials. (The term “Bible” in American English is usually used to refer to the sacred or holy texts of Christians, the Old and New Testaments, although it could also be used to refer just to texts sacred to Jews as well.)
After asking questions of 46,000 randomly-selected (select by chance) people, the ABS has determined the most “Bible-minded” cities in the U.S. (Minded here means having your mind on or thinking about something.) The ABS asked people whether they had read the Bible within the past seven days and if they agreed “strongly with the accuracy of the Bible.” Based on the responses, the ABS ranked 100 U.S. cities. The top 10 cities are all in an area known in the U.S. as the “Bible Belt.”
The top 10 most Bible-minded cities are:
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Roanoke/Lynchburg, Virginia
- Springfield, Missouri
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C./Asheville, North Carolina
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Knoxville, Tennessee
The Bible Belt is an informal term for the south central and southeastern parts of the U.S. that have traditionally been considered more religious than other parts of the country. (Belt here means an area where some characteristic or trait is commonly found.) The term is said to have been (believed to be, but not completely certain) coined (created) by an American journalist and commentator (person who gives his/her opinion professionally), H.L. Menken, who wrote for the newspaper Chicago Daily Tribune (now simply called the Chicago Tribune).
Perhaps ironically (being opposite of what one would expect), the American Bible Society is located in New York City, which is number 89 on the list, just ahead of (before) Las Vegas, often called Sin City, with “sin” referring to bad things people do that are against what God would want. Los Angeles doesn’t fare (do) much better at number 73, but we’re not as bad as San Francisco, which is ranked 97th.
If you’d like to see for yourself which cities are considered most Bible-minded according this survey, take a look at the full list here on the American Bible Society website.
– Jeff
Image Credit: King James Version Bible 1611 from Wikipedia
Hi there.
Just yesterday I was reading a post by the famous astronomer Phil Plait, who by the way resembles Jeff, on his Bad Astronomy Blob.
It is, in my opinion, an interesting article about the debate they held recently between a scientist Bill Nye and this creationist Ken Ham.
Now, when I am reading that half of the population of the US believes in some sort of creationism, is like stabbing me in the eye. Come on! in 2014!
As I am finished I am going to look for the cities in the US that promote science, logic, facts.
Thanks Jeff
Dear Jeff, first of all I want to thank you from my heart to let me post the long, long, story of my
love affairs of such a long long time in Madrid.
Thank you very much Jeff endeed, you are really very kind and it has been a proof of my capacity
of writing in English, a good experience that had taken me a big effort, but I think it has beef for
good.
Now talking about The Bible, I could say that here in Spain people are not very fond of reading the
sacred book, in fact only the New Testament is read in mass, that´s enough, usually people have not
the Bible in their houses and being so they don´t use to read it.
When I was young it was necessary to aprove a subject that treats about religion and I had the chance
of studying the Old Testament, but I don´t think it is a subject of today in the schools of this country.
If we are measuring the faith or religion of people here by the circunstances of reading the sacred
book I think nearly all Spaniards are atheists.
Again thank you very much Jeff, my friend and teacher, you are the one for me.
emiliano
Hi! It is the first of March, the first spring feast in my country. The spring is coming…the love is coming.
We have a very small gift (with red and white) for every friend, and flowers…many, many spring flowers.
I think every boy gives a flower (a red flower) to her girl-friend. And every husband should do the same. I am not sure of that.
I wish you a very nice and full of joy spring.
Love,
Tania
Hi! In the context from my country, I consider the song “Fever” a spring gift from our teachers.
Jeff sang like a real singer.
He recited the lyrics excellent and with pathos.
“Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When put your arms around me
I get a fever that’s so hard to bear.
You give me fever, when you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever in the mornin’, a fever all through the night.”
Thank you for this nice love song, dear Jeff.
Hi! New characters to me : captain Smith and Pocahontas.
I told you. I have a lot of new things to learn from the American literature.
“Fever started long ago
Romeo loved Juliet
………………………..
Captain Smith and Pocahontas
Had a very mad affair.”
We use the same phrase: a mad love, very deep, but usually with an unhappy end.
No, today everybody must be happy!
The spring is coming.
Hi! A Street Car Named Desire…I saw the movie many years ago.
I kept in my mind the title without to know its exact meaning. I am delighted of this new topic.
“They told me to take a street-car named Desire, and transfer to one called Cemeteries, and ride six blocks and get off at – Elysian Fields.”
A play written in 1947 but so topical, present thanks to the themes:
– fantasy’s inability to overcome reality;
– the relationship between sex and death;
– dependence on men.
Hi! I think all of us have our own struggle between appearances and reality.
The desire, at least seemingly, to be happier than others, richer, more important at our job, cleverer…
And we have our great playwright who wrote about human appearances, real comedies.
Hi! Very interesting to me the relationship between sex and death.
The fear of ageing and the lost beauty…
This theme is much more present today.
Many stars but and common people have a great attraction toward men/ women younger, a mean to avoid old age,
death and return to the world of teenage bliss.
We could say it is trendy at 50 years old to have a lover of 25.
Look at Madonna and many other stars.
It is very trendy and in my country, too.
Of course, the first condition is to be a rich woman or man.
Hi! Dependence on men…is a reality.
Women have a native inclination to study and men less.
What can women do? How long can they wait for a special man?
I know a teacher married with a taxi driver, a doctor with an electrician.
“La vie en rose” isn’t so “rose”.
Hi! And the famous quote “Whoever you are – I have always depended on the kindness of strangers”…
We have to know that nothing is free of charge.
Hi! I”A Street Car Named Desire” is a very nice movie but I don’t see it again because of the violence scenes.
I can’t imagine how a such young actor like Marlon Brando at 24 can play so magnificent.
According to Wikipedia “Marlon Brando has been hailed as the father of theatrical stars like James Dean and Jack Nicholson”.
Hi! I think it is present and this quote:
“But what I am is a one hundred percent American, born and raised in the greatest country on earth
and proud as hell of it.”
Hi! The most Bible-minded cities…I agree with Emiliano.
In my country there are a lot of churches and monasteries built recently.
But we do not have the custom to study, read, interpret the meanings of the Bible within the family.
I have understood that this custom is a practice in many American families on Sunday.
Many of us buy religious books but for his/herself especially in grave cases.
As we are afraid of car accidents, I think everyone has a protection little icon and a prayers little book.
Thank you for this new information about the “Bible Belt”.
Hi! But where are all our blog friends?
We are waiting for you all with news wishing you a very happy spring.
TALKS FROM THE HEART
I am listening now to Julio Iglesias, says he feels sad, I now do not feel sad. The sadness it was leaving back to January / February of the year 2013.
For me it was like a miracle and is not to be a believer, but not knowing what to do or where to turn to depression, not wanting to live and seeing unable to care about my Cuca and I started thinking to go to a residence as a last and very bad alternative.
If I had done that, Cuca refused or anything, never left the well. So I went to the doctor, I got treatment and for my part I prayed to God, YES God, as it sounds.
We remember Him when we are desperate, but I never go to church, pray I do not remember almost any night to pray or remember anything about religions. and I am anything but Christian-Catholic, at the end asked God to take me out the deep hole.
Black deep hole without any hopes.
Laugh some if you like, no problem, I’m not really a believer but I pray to God when I lost hope. And the second time I’ve done in the two times I’ve had depression. The two times I’ve healed and not know how or what I have done for it. Some have received help from the insurance. And this time I’m more certain than the first, because I lasted two years.
This lasted as? Barely six / seven months and is so immense relief that feels, anyone who has not been through it can know where it is.
‘s greatest joy imaginable, that does not give you the money, nor sex, nor love sometimes-and all that is about the pleasure of returning to live with gusto, the cessation of anguish, pangs in his chest, anxiety will not let you almost breathe.
The whole body pain, lack of strength, the feeling sunk without hopes, thoughts of death or suicide, feeling that you are useless, a burden to others. You cannot explain what happens to you, no one understands it and think that you can do something, well when all that CESA and ceases, is infinite joy, excellent and comparable with anything.
Well also, around February / March I began to regain my life again. Changed if depression changes your character in some way, there is something that is renewed and for a long time perspective you have of your life improves.
Too much for today, this is strong to have passed, and until a few months the person is not prepared to review the past and examine your motives, if any, that have led to a situation of so much anguish and despair.
Now I’m fine, but always hard reviewing tricky issues of life.
Thank you so much
emiliano