You are very correct in that the level of religious observance and the influence of Christianity remain heaviest in the south (among both blacks and whites), weakest in New England and the west (outside of the Mormon enclaves and places like Colorado Springs), with the upper Midwest being somewhere in between (although too many old school Lutherans in Minnesota and Wisconsin vote DFL/Democrat, despite being regular attendees).
The secularization of the heavily Catholic regions of the US (Mid-Atlantic, lower and coastal New England, and, to a lesser extent, the rust belt) and the decline in influence of the Church in those areas (despite what the K of C/Kool Aid Catholics on this site will tell you) is a phenomenon that deserves further study. The "Quiet Revolution" did not just occur in Quebec.
Being a Christian is about truly believing in your heart that Christ was the son of God sent here to absolve us if we accept that...how he suffered as a man by choice to prove that.
Pious life and good works are secondary...not to say one can believe that and be Charlie Manson too...though he could be saved I guess...his judgement could still be served here and his redemption found in the afterlife.
I am not pious as you know but I do believe, do not think we were some cosmic accidental ectoplasmic ricochet and I also fear the wrath too...that is probably the southern thing which is why we kill good down here those who have it coming....we weren’t not into relative equating much...at least my generation isn’t
convoluted i guess