[America’s Most and Least] Bible-Minded Cities

http://cities.barna.org/americas-most-and-least-bible-minded-cities-2/ ^ | 1/21/2013 | Barna Research

[daniel1212]

The report ranks the most and least “Bible-minded” cities by looking at how people in those cities view the Bible....

Regionally, the South still qualifies as the most Bible-minded. The top ranking cities, where at least half of the population qualifies as Bible-minded, are all Southern cities. This includes the media markets for Knoxville, TN (52% of the population are Bible-minded), Shreveport, LA (52%), Chattanooga, TN (52%), Birmingham, AL (50%), and Jackson, MS (50%). Other markets in the top 10 include Springfield, MO (49%), Charlotte, NC (48%), Lynchburg, VA (48%), Huntsville-Decatur, AL (48%), and Charleston, WV (47%).

The least Bible-oriented markets include a mix of regions, but tend to be from the New England area. Easily the lowest Bible-minded scores came from Providence, RI (9%) and Albany, NY (10%). To put this in perspective, the most Bible-minded markets are five times more likely to have residents who qualify as Bible-minded than is true in these two Northeastern cities.

Though these two cities are the most extreme, none of the cities in the bottom 10 break 20%, where even one in five people could be considered Bible-minded. The New England area is home to most of the markets in the bottom 10 Bible-minded cities, including Burlington, VT (16%), Portland, ME (16%), Hartford, CT (16%), Boston, MA (16%), Buffalo, NY (18%) and New York, NY (18%).

The remaining markets in the bottom 10 are primarily in the West and include San Francisco, CA (16%), Phoenix, AZ (17%), and Las Vegas, NV (18%). Cedar Rapids, IA (18%) being something of an outlier.

See where your city ranks. See all 96 cities here..

[daniel1212]

See more at link.

Additional various data and stats from recent years:

Top Homosexual Cities Ranked by Percentage

Rank

City

Percentage
of City
Population

GLB Population

population

1

San Francisco

15.4%

94,234

2

Seattle

12.9%

57,993

3

Atlanta

12.8%

39,805

4

Minneapolis

12.5%

34,295

5

Boston

12.3%

50,540

6

Sacramento

9.8%

32,108

7

Portland

8.8%

35,413

8

Denver

8.2%

33,698

9

Washington

8.1%

32,599

10

Orlando

7.7%

12,508

Top States Ranked by Percentage

Top Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas Ranked by Population

Rank	State	GLB Population
		Percentage of State Population	population
1	District of Columbia	8.1%	47,651
2	New Hampshire	6.6%	81,561
3	Washington	5.7%	335,964
4	Massachusetts	5.7%	361,898
5	Maine	5.2%	66,295
6	California	5.2%	1,895,792
7	Colorado	5.1%	219,364
8	Vermont	5.1%	31,050
9	New Mexico	4.9%	99,085
10	Minnesota	4.7%	231,215

Rank	Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area	GLB	GLB% population
1	New York City – Northern New Jersey – Long Island, New York	568,903	2.6%
2	Los Angeles – Long Beach - Santa Ana, California	442,211	2.7%
3	Chicago – Naperville – Joliet, Illinois	288,478	3.2%
4	San Francisco – Oakland – Fremont, California	256,313	3.6%
5	Boston – Cambridge – Quincy, Massachusetts	201,344	3.4%
6	Washington Metropolitan Area	191,959	2.5%
7	Dallas – Fort Worth – Arlington, Texas	183,718	3.5%
8	Miami – Miami Beach – Fort Lauderdale, Florida	183,346	4.7%
9	Atlanta – Marietta – Sandy Springs, Georgia	180,168	4.3%
10	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Camden, New Jersey – Wilmington, Delaware	179,459	2.8%	2008 CNN exit polling showed self-identified gay, lesbian, and bisexual voters at 4% of the voting population in the United States presidential election, 2008.[16] 2010

2012

A Gallup report published in October 2012 by the Williams Institute reported that 3.4% of US adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Minorities were more likely to identify as non-heterosexual; 4.6% of blacks, 4.0% of Hispanics and 3.2% of whites. Younger people, aged 18-29, were three times more likely to identify as LGBT than seniors over the age of 65, the numbers being 6.4% and 1.9%, respectively.[18][19]

The U.S. census has never asked Americans about their religion or religious beliefs.^[1] Thus, the data here comes from Gallup, which polled Americans about their religious beliefs since 1948. Blank means that there is no data available for a given year. All of the percentages here are rounded, so 0% could actually mean 0.01% to 0.49% if one would be able to see the entire number.^[2]

% of Americans by religious affiliation (1948-2011)

Religion	1948	1950	1955	1960	1965	1970	1975	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2010	2011
Protestant	69%	66%	70%	67%	69%	65%	60%	61%	57%	56%	56%	52%	49%	45%	42%
Catholic	22%	25%	22%	25%	24%	26%	27%	28%	28%	25%	27%	25%	23%	21%	23%
Non-denominational Christian												5%	7%	8%	10%
Mormon									2%	1%	1%	2%	2%	2%	2%
Jewish	4%	4%	4%	3%	3%	3%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%	2%
Other religions	0%	3%	2%	2%	2%	2%	4%	2%	3%	5%	5%	5%	5%	4%	5%
None	2%		2%	2%	2%	3%	6%	7%	8%	9%	6%	8%	10%	14%	13%
Undesignated	3%	2%	1%	1%	0%	0%	1%	0%	1%	2%	2%	2%	2%	4%	3%

The percentage of Protestants in the United States has decreased from over two-thirds in 1948 to less than half by 2011. This decline in Protestant immigration has corresponded to the relaxation of immigration restrictions pertaining to mostly non-Protestant counties. The percentage of Catholics in the United States increased from 1948 all the way to the 1980s, but then began declining again. The percentage of Jews in the United States has decreased from 4% to 2% during this same time period. There has been very little Jewish immigration to the U.S. after 1948 in comparison to previous years. The number of people with other religions was almost nonexistent in 1948, but rose to 5% by 2011, partially due to large immigration from non-Christian countries. The percentage of non-religious people (atheists, agnostics, and irreligious) people in the U.S. has drastically increased from 2% to 13%. The number of Americans unsure about their religion and religious beliefs stayed roughly the same over the years, always hovering at 0% to 4%.^[2]

% of Americans by Protestant religious affiliation (1992-2011)

Religion	1992	1995	2000	2005	2010	2011
Southern Baptist	9%	10%	8%	5%	4%	4%
Other Baptist	10%	9%	10%	11%	13%	9%
Methodist	10%	9%	9%	8%	7%	5%
Presbyterian	5%	4%	5%	3%	3%	2%
Episcopalian	2%	2%	3%	3%	2%	1%
Lutheran	7%	6%	7%	5%	5%	5%
Pentecostal	1%	3%	2%	2%	2%	2%
Church of Christ		2%	2%	2%	1%	2%
Other Protestant	11%	9%	4%	5%	4%	5%
Non-denominational Protestant	1%	3%	4%	5%	5%	4%
No opinion	5%	1%	2%	1%	2%	1%

Over the last 19 years, some of the more traditional Protestant denominations/branches experienced a large decline as a percentage of the total American population. These include Southern Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Other Protestants. The only Protestant branch that significantly increased its percentage share over the last 19 years is non-denominational Protestanism. The Protestants who were unsure about which branch of Protestanism they believed in also drastically declined as a percentage of the U.S. population over the last 19 years.^[2]

[ClearCase_guy]

Boston is #91 out of 96. I’m sort of surprised we’re not lower.

[ansel12]

A non denominational Christian isn’t a Protestant?

[daniel1212]

Lots more stats here, such as,

• 83% percent of Americans identified themselves as Christians (Catholics or Protestants), but only 49% of these individuals described themselves as absolutely committed to Christianity. http://www.barna.org/congregations-articles/103-barnas-annual-tracking-study-shows-americans-stay-spiritually-active-but-biblical-views-wane?q=salvation

• 49% of adults identify themselves as attenders of Protestant churches, while 23% say they attend the Catholic segment. ^

States with highest ratio of religious adherents (http://ext.nazarene.org/rcms/stateswithhighestratioadherents.html Association of Religion Data Archives www.TheARDA.com):

• 1 Utah 74.7%

• 2 North Dakota 73.2%

• 3 District Of Columbia 73.2%

• 4 South Dakota 67.8%

  ----------------------------

  4 States with lowest ratio adherents

• 48 Alaska 34.3%

• 49 Nevada 34.3%

• 50 Washington 33.0%

• 51 Oregon 31.3%

• State ranking according to survey response as to religion being an important part of peoples daily lives. (highest to lowest): * Mississippi: 85% * Alabama: 82% * South Carolina: 80% * Tennessee: 79% * Louisiana: 78% * Arkansas: 78% * Georgia: 76% * North Carolina: 76% * Oklahoma: 75% * Kentucky: 74% * Texas: 74% * West Virginia: 71% * Kansas: 70% * Utah: 69% * Missouri: 68% * Virginia: 68% * South Dakota: 68% * North Dakota: 68% * Indiana: 68% * Nebraska: 67% * New Mexico: 66% * Pennsylvania: 65% * Florida: 65% * Maryland: 65% * Ohio: 65% * Iowa: 64% * Minnesota: 64% * Illinois: 64% * Michigan: 64% * Delaware: 61% * Wisconsin: 61% * District of Columbia: 61% * Idaho: 61% * Arizona: 61% * New Jersey: 60% * Wyoming: 58% * Colorado: 57% * Hawaii: 57% * California: 57% * Montana: 56% * New York: 56% * Connecticut: 55% * Nevada: 54% * Rhode Island: 53% * Oregon: 53% * Washington: 52% * Alaska: 51% * Massachusetts: 48% * Maine: 48% * New Hampshire: 46% * Vermont: 42%. Overall nationwide mean of 65% http://www.gallup.com/poll/114022/State-States-Importance-Religion.aspx

• The Eastern United States is the only region of the country where Protestants account for less than half (44.1%) of the population. Catholics are the best represented religious tradition in this region; claiming 35.1% of the population. ^5.5Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion - American Piety in the 21 Century – September 2006 . http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

• The West has the highest percentages of religiously unaffiliated people (17.6%) and people in other religious traditions (10.3%) of any U.S. Region. Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion^

• According to a Barna research report issued October 11, 2010, The 10 most unchurched cities – where around four out of ten adults have not been to a religious worship service in the last six months – are San Francisco (44%); Portland, Maine (43%); Portland, Ore. (42%); Albany NY (42%); Boston (40%); Sacramento (40%); and Seattle (40%); Spokane (39%);, New York (38%); Phoenix (38%); Tucson (37%). . http://www.barna.org/faith-spirituality/435-diversity-of-faith-in-various-us-cities

• The cities (measured in the Barna research as media markets) with the highest proportion of residents who describe themselves as Christian are typically in the South, including: Shreveport (98%), Birmingham (96%), Charlotte (96%), Nashville (95%), Greenville, SC / Asheville, NC (94%), New Orleans (94%), Indianapolis (93%), Lexington (93%), Roanoke-Lynchburg (93%), Little Rock (92%), and Memphis (92%). ^

• 73% of the populations of Charlotte and Shreveport held scripture in high regard, versus only 27% of the residents of Providence, Rhode Island (the most Catholic state) and San Francisco (the most homosexual large city). ^

• 64% of Birmingham and 54% of Charlotte said they strongly agreed that a person has a responsibility to share their beliefs with others, versus only 14% of residents of Providence R.I. and 17% of Bostonians agreed. ^

• The highest percentages of residents who describe themselves as Christian are typically in the South, including: Shreveport LA (98%), Birmingham (96%), Charlotte (96%), Nashville (95%), Greenville, SC / Asheville, NC (94%), New Orleans (94%), Indianapolis (93%), Lexington (93%), Roanoke-Lynchburg (93%), Little Rock (92%), and Memphis (92%)

• 73% of the populations of Charlotte and Shreveport held scripture in high regard, versus only 27% of the residents of Providence, Rhode Island [the most Catholic state] and San Francisco [the most homosexual large city]. ^

• The lowest percentages of self-identified Christians inhabited the following markets: San Francisco (68%), Portland, Oregon (71%), Portland, Maine (72%), Seattle (73%), Sacramento (73%), New York (73%), San Diego (75%), Los Angeles (75%), Boston (76%), Phoenix (78%), Miami (78%), Las Vegas (78%), and Denver (78%). Even in these cities, however, roughly three out of every four residents align with Christianity. ^

• The highest percentage of souls who tended toward being atheist or agnostic were in Portland, Maine (19%), Seattle (19%), Portland, Oregon (16%), Sacramento (16%), and Spokane (16%) ^

• Commitment to evangelism (agree strongly that a person has a responsibility to share their beliefs with others) saw the greatest percentage of endorsement by residents of Birmingham (64%) and Charlotte (54%), in contrast to residents of Providence (14%) and Boston (17%). ^

  Also, you may want to see extensive chart of statistical correlations

  2012 voting (Blue=Obama; Red=Romney

  

  

  2007 Religious Demographic maps (Evang. Cath. etc.)

[daniel1212]

Ping of interest

[Vigilanteman]

Cedar Rapids, IA (18%) being something of an outlier.

Probably because it is a college town. These kind of people tend to believe that the Bible is a myth and Keynesian economics and global warming is real.

[daniel1212]

MA is the most liberal (http://www.peacebyjesus.net/statistical_correlations.html). See all 96 here: http://cities.barna.org/americas-most-and-least-bible-minded-cities/

[daniel1212]

They try to categorize in order to make distinctions, but it is not perfect.

[svcw]

I must be missing the point - what does Bible-Minded mean?

[ansel12]

What is a non-denomination Christian category that isn’t Protestant?

[daniel1212]

This is true, beginning with #1. And that nature is to be essentially worshiped (requires no personal repentance: fornicate but do not litter).

“And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: “ (Romans 1:23-24)

[daniel1212]

Notice what city is #84 (http://cities.barna.org/americas-most-and-least-bible-minded-cities)

[re_nortex]

There's also a strong correlation between those who base their life on the Word of God and those who value liberty, freedom and enterprise:

For atheistic liberals in Yankee states and out on the far left coast, their worship is reserved for unionism and Big Labor goons.

[bramps]

Boston is #91 out of 96. I’m sort of surprised we’re not lower.

---

Should give us a couple extra minutes to get out when God has finally had enough.

[who knows what evil?]

Daniel...you never fail to provide statistics that many Christians find absolutely fascinating...I have quite a few bookmarked.

[who knows what evil?]

Boston got lumped in with Red Hampshire’s Manchester...that didn’t help. I made the mistake of mentioning Red Hampshire’s status as the least-religious state in the Nation in conversation with a group of teachers. One of them locked her beady black eyes on me and spat out “Good!”

[re_nortex]

I made the mistake of mentioning Red Hampshire’s status as the least-religious state in the Nation in conversation with a group of teachers. One of them locked her beady black eyes on me and spat out “Good!”

Is it any surprise that places turning their backs on God are also the least desirable places to raise a family? At the top of the "good list" is Knoxville, TN. Aside from the liberalism of the university there, it's a terrific region -- with salt-of-the-earth God-fearing people, a low crime rate, high gun ownership and beautiful scenery.

[who knows what evil?]

Couldn’t agree more...Knoxville east to the NC/VA borders is a great place to live!

[daniel1212]

Thanks. That correlates well. I am not sure if you can get an image here of the 2007 evang vote (and others) but it likely fits.

This demographic is from 2000

[sasportas]

Notice the correlation in the statistics, the least Bible minded and liberal area of the country, the Northeast, is heavily Catholic, and always vote Democrat. Whilst the most Bible minded areas of the country, the south and midwest, are heavily Protestant, and vote Republican.

Yet FR, an obviously Catholic site, its Religious section flogging Protestants in one thread after another, is a very conservative site. Go figure.

[daniel1212]

Notice the correlation in the statistics, the least Bible minded and liberal area of the country, the Northeast, is heavily Catholic, and always vote Democrat. Whilst the most Bible minded areas of the country, the south and midwest, are heavily Protestant, and vote Republican.

True, though money also is a large factor.

Yet FR, an obviously Catholic site, its Religious section flogging Protestants in one thread after another, is a very conservative site. Go figure. Which is usually due to the incessant posts about Rome, often advertising her or defending her doctrine, which invites refutations, and sometimes results in overreactions by her defenders when she is impugned in the least, as well as more exposure of problems. But both faiths are in spiritual declension overall, and atheism and witchcraft are on the rise as the US goes into its tailspin.

[daniel1212]

Notice the correlation in the statistics, the least Bible minded and liberal area of the country, the Northeast, is heavily Catholic, and always vote Democrat. Whilst the most Bible minded areas of the country, the south and midwest, are heavily Protestant, and vote Republican.

True, though money also is a large factor.

Yet FR, an obviously Catholic site, its Religious section flogging Protestants in one thread after another, is a very conservative site. Go figure.

Which is usually due to the incessant posts about Rome, often advertising her or defending her doctrine, which invites refutations, and sometimes results in overreactions by her defenders when she is impugned in the least, as well as more exposure of problems.

But both faiths are in spiritual declension overall, and atheism and witchcraft are on the rise as the US goes into its tailspin.

[daniel1212]

Thank God if these edify and spur born again believers to pray and preach. I do not think New Hampshire is the least-religious state in the Nation, as that goes to . Vermont

Then you have this

The study released Monday by the Chronicle of Philanthropy found that residents in states where religious participation is higher than the rest of the nation, particularly in the South, gave the greatest percentage of their discretionary income to charity.

The Northeast, with lower religious participation, was the least generous to charities, with the six New England states filling the last six slots among the 50 states.

The study also found that patterns of charitable giving are colored in political reds and blues.

Of the 10 least generous states, nine voted for Democrat Barack Obama for president in the last election. By contrast, of the 10 most generous states, eight voted for Republican John McCain.

The below map is from 2011

[daniel1212]

Another graphic:

[daniel1212]

Opps. The above is for Church or synagogue attendance by state

[Elsie]

#32

[Elsie]

States with highest ratio of religious adherents...

An adherant ain't necessarily a CHRISTIAN.

MORMONism's firm grasp on it's 'adherants' pushes UTAH to #1; where 57% of the state claim to be some type of MORMON.

[Elsie]

These kind of people tend to believe that the Bible is a myth...

Only AFTER they take Comparative Religion 101

[Elsie]

I must be missing the point - what does Bible-Minded mean?

It's vague; so a person can PROJECT whatever meaning they want onto it.

[Elsie]

HUH?

How does SLC being #84 correlate with 1 Utah 74.7%???

[Elsie]

Nana; this is for you!

...Knoxville east to the NC/VA borders is a great place to live!

[Elsie]

Yet FR, an obviously Catholic site, its Religious section flogging Protestants in one thread after another, is a very conservative site.

Nah; they're just mouthy...

[Elsie]

A graph of WHAT?

[Elsie]

Opps; just saw it.

But what does ‘attendance’ mean?

[Alex Murphy]

Regionally, the South still qualifies as the most Bible-minded. The top ranking cities, where at least half of the population qualifies as Bible-minded, are all Southern cities. This includes the media markets for Knoxville, TN (52% of the population are Bible-minded), Shreveport, LA (52%), Chattanooga, TN (52%), Birmingham, AL (50%), and Jackson, MS (50%). Other markets in the top 10 include Springfield, MO (49%), Charlotte, NC (48%), Lynchburg, VA (48%), Huntsville-Decatur, AL (48%), and Charleston, WV (47%).

The least Bible-oriented markets include a mix of regions, but tend to be from the New England area. Easily the lowest Bible-minded scores came from Providence, RI (9%) and Albany, NY (10%). To put this in perspective, the most Bible-minded markets are five times more likely to have residents who qualify as Bible-minded than is true in these two Northeastern cities.

Ping to read and digest later.

[Gamecock]

We just moved from NY to SC.

I suspect that NY dropped a point or two and SC moved up a notch. :-)

[daniel1212]

How does SLC being #84 correlate with 1 Utah 74.7%???

The latter is simply “States with highest ratio of religious adherents,” while the former is how people in those cities view the Bible. Individuals who report reading the Bible in a typical week and who strongly assert the Bible is accurate in the principles it teaches are considered to be Bible-minded.

Thus they are kind of like Muslims and to somewhat like Catholics, as for them the Bible is not their real authority, thus the low numbers. The more basically literally Catholics take the Bible (unlike much of their primary post V2 scholarship) then the more conservative they are.

Catholics that are Biblical literalists [11.8%] hold more conservative political views than the Catholic population in general does. The Biblical literalist Catholic is as politically conservative as the Biblical literalist who is Evangelical [47.8%] or Mainline Protestant. [11.2%] American Piety in the 21st Century, Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/33304.pdf

Note that “literal” does not mean forcing allegorical language to be literal (David referring to water as blood, or the Canaanites being “bread” for them), but the historical accounts such as Jonah and the fish are literally real, and that Jesus really did preach on a boat, etc., and that Hell is as real as described, as is its counterpart. To the glory of God. May i always walk according ti so great salvation.

“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: “ (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

[Mr. Jeeves]

Phoenix, AZ (17%)

Snort. There's a church on every corner around here. I don't buy it. Even Las Vegas has many more church-goers than, say, San Francisco or Seattle.

[metmom]

My daughter lives in LA and there are some absolutely enormous churches there that have VERY active ministries and outreaches.

Bible minded or not, there is a lot of evangelism going on.

[metmom]

What is a non-denomination Christian category that isn’t Protestant?

Evangelical?

A believer?

Why does a Christian have to be labeled? What exactly is Protestant anyway?

[metmom]

Interesting that NY is on the list because in both areas of the state that I’ve lived in, WNY and CNY, they are heavily religious.

There is a strong Catholic component in both areas. So although they are religious, they are not very Bible minded.

And it shows in the red/blue maps and voting patterns.

[svcw]

Oh, so it’s a “study” with lots of numbers, graphs and charts that mean nothing.

[Salvation]

[Vigilanteman]

Why does a Christian have to be labeled? What exactly is Protestant anyway?

Darn good question. Protestant is a label which originates in the protests which led to the reformation in the era of Martin Luther, John Calvin and thereafter. Luther was not the first reformer, just the first who was successful.

Jan Hus, who proceeded him by about a century, is revered by many originalists who consider him the greatest of the reformers. I once attended a very originalist Baptist church who did not consider themselves Protestants because the original Anabaptists of whom Hus was considered a leader, never signed on with the State Church in Rome which was launched with the Nicean Creed in the 4th century. Some of them even consider modern Baptists to be sell-outs and other Protestants to be rebel branches of the Catholic church, which doctrines they also reject.

[who knows what evil?]

Thank God if these edify and spur born again believers to pray and preach. I do not think New Hampshire is the least-religious state in the Nation, as that goes to Vermont.

I have seen several similar surveys that flip Vermont and New Hampshire...neither is a position either state should covet.

[sasportas]

In response to my comment about FR being a Catholic site, you said:

Which is usually due to the incessant posts about Rome, often advertising her or defending her doctrine, which invites refutations,

You mean like this one from a few days ago:

"Pope: Historical Divisions Among Christians One of the Most Serious Sins that Disfigure Church"

Luther was a sinner for posting his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenburg Church, exposing Rome's sins, their indulgences, etc.? The rest of the Protestants are sinners in refusing to be subservient to the Pope of Rome?

[ansel12]

I don’t know, but no one here seems to know either, yet this thread says that 13% of Christians who aren’t members of a church, are whatever it is.

[ansel12]

10%, not 13%.

[metmom]

Interesting.

mr. mm and I aren’t members of a church although we affiliate with one which we attend regularly.

IMO, church membership is useful for having a say in church government, but that’s about it.

[metmom]

That’s interesting. I never knew that.

Catholics like to portray that there were never any Christians or Christianity outside the Catholic church and that if it weren’t for the Catholic church, none would exist and neither would Scripture.