The Most and Least Bible-Minded Cities in America

American Bible Society ^ | 2013

[Alex Murphy]

To conduct effective ministry, American Bible Society wants to know what U.S. cities embrace the best-selling book of all time.

Chattanooga, Tenn., ranks No. 1, according to American Bible Society's study, America's Most Bible-Minded Cities. Knoxville, Tenn., claimed last year's top spot.

America's Most Bible-Minded Cities, our second consecutive study, shows that the Midwest and South continues to perform strongly. Chattanooga, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Shreveport, La.; Little Rock, Ark.; and Jackson, Miss.; all ranked among America's top 10 most Bible-minded cities in 2013.

Not surprisingly, many cities in the East Coast continued to rank as the least Bible-minded in 2013. Among them: Providence, R.I.; Albany and Buffalo, N.Y.; Boston; and Portland, Maine.

Along with ranking the most and least Bible-minded cities, the study also found that an inverse relationship exists between population size and Bible friendliness. Of the top 25 Bible-minded markets, only three have a population of greater than 1 million households: Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Dallas.

"An analysis of interaction with and views of the Bible continues to help us evaluate the Bible landscape in America,” says Geoffrey Morin, Chief Communication Officer of American Bible Society. "To help people engage with the [Bible], we need to understand where people are starting from."

"We want people to know that whether you live in the least or most Bible-minded cities, the Bible can speak to your needs, challenges and concerns and help you make sense of your life."

American Bible Society offers numerous Bible resources to help spur Bible engagement. The Bible memorization app BibleMinded offers memory plans and study modes to help you commit Scripture verses to memory. The Bible devotional resource Journeys allows you to sign up for a daily Bible devotional. You can start the Bible Introduction journey by signing up below.

[Alex Murphy]

From Time Magazine's coverage of the study:

"The study defines “Bible-mindedness” as a combination of how often respondents read the Bible and how accurate they think the Bible is. “Respondents who report reading the bible within the past seven days and who agree strongly in the accuracy of the Bible are classified as ‘Bible Minded,’” says the study’s methodology."

Most Bible-Minded Cities/2013
1.Chattanooga, Tenn.
2.Birmingham, Ala.
3.Roanoke/Lynchburg, Va.
4.Springfield, Mo.
5.Shreveport, La.
6.Charlotte, N.C.
7.Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C./Asheville, N.C.
8.Little Rock, Ark.
9.Jackson, Miss.
10.Knoxville, Tenn.

Least Bible-Minded Cities/2013
1.Providence, R.I./New Bedford, Mass.
2.Albany, N.Y.
3.Boston
4.San Francisco
5.Cedar Rapids, Iowa
6.Buffalo, N.Y.
7.Hartford/New Haven, Conn.
8.Phoenix
9.Burlington, Vt.
10.Portland, Maine

[Responsibility2nd]

Cedar Rapids suprises me. That’s is mid-America. Corn Country.

Maybe it’s lib-infested like the others on the list. That - after all - explains it all.

[jsanders2001]

I call fraud. The data can’t be correct. Not one city from California and DC which is the most anti-Christian city in America isn’t even mentioned...: )

[Salvation]

The Catholic Church also has many resources for Bible reading and study.

Thanks for this most interesting list.

[Vigilanteman]

Liberals use a different Bible:

[Gamecock]

Asheville, NC???

Seething hotbed of liberal hippies. San Francisco of 1969 must be the same as today’s Ashville. .

[MeshugeMikey]

San Francisco is predictably high on the list of least Bibled cities.

[Alex Murphy]

I call fraud. The data can’t be correct. Not one city from California...

I call "illiteracy". Check #21, #66, #70, #72, #73, and #97 on the map found in post #1.

[Biggirl]

Could it be that those liberal hippies have found Jesus at last in Ashville?

[Huskrrrr]

Cedar Rapids is close to Iowa City, an ultra-liberal town and home to the very liberal University of Iowa.

[smokingfrog]

I guess they don’t call it “the bible belt” for nothing.

[miele man]

later read

[Resolute Conservative]

Austin? Maybe the burbs but not Austin.

[oh8eleven]

Least Bible-Minded Cities/2013
2.Albany, N.Y.
Isn't that where the pro-abortion Catholic Andy Cuomo lives? Gee, who'd have guessed?

[fwdude]

Iowa is not nearly as conservative and Christian as you seem to think it is. Other than the vast, sparsely populated rural bulk, it is a Leftish hellhole.

[fwdude]

Not one city from California and DC which is the most anti-Christian city in America isn’t even mentioned...: )

DC has a lot of churchy blacks, who merely "think" they know and believe the Bible.

[fwdude]

Note, Salt Lake City is #87!!!

Is this anti-Mormon bias, or do they really not use the Bible.

[V_TWIN]

“I call fraud. The data can’t be correct. Not one city from California and DC which is the most anti-Christian city in America isn’t even mentioned”

I think those 2 might fall into the “no religion at all” category.

[Alex Murphy]

Note, Salt Lake City is #87!!! Is this anti-Mormon bias, or do they really not use the Bible.

From the LDS Articles of Faith:

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly

As post #1 states, the study defines “Bible-mindedness” as a combination of how often respondents read the Bible and how accurate they think the Bible is.

[virgil283]

Interesting Alex...Chattanooga, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Little Rock, Ark.;....These cities have a big problem in the city core with violence.....Looks like they know who to call on in times of trouble and what the real way to change hearts and minds is through knowing God...