Faith

Gallup: These Are the Top 5 ‘Most Religious’ & ‘Least Religious’ States

Gallup has released another one of its trademark surveys, this time exploring which states are the “most” and “least” religious.

Is it any surprise that, according to Gallup, the majority of those who identify themselves as “very religious” come from the Southern states (the “Bible Belt”)?

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

Photo Source: Gallup

“Mississippi is the most religious U.S. state, and is one of eight states where Gallup classifies at least half of the residents as ‘very religious,’” writes Gallup’s Frank Newport.

Of course, there is an exception to the “Southern rule.” As we’re sure you have already noticed, and despite the fact that it’s surrounded by states that are either “average” or “below average” in religiosity, Utah is the second most religious state in the country.

“Coupled with the Southern states in the high-religiosity category is Utah, the majority of whose residents are Mormon — the most religious group in America today,” Newport writes.

These are Gallup’s Top 5 “Most Religious” States:

5. Arkansas — 54 percent of the residents can be classified as “very religious”

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

4. Louisiana — 54 percent “very religious”

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

 3. Alabama — 56 percent “very religious”

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

2. Utah — 57 percent “very religious”

 

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

1. Mississippi — 59  percent “very religious”

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the “least religious” states in the U.S. are primarily located in New England. Does that surprise anyone either?

“Vermont and New Hampshire are the least religious states, and are two of the five states — along with Maine, Massachusetts, and Alaska — where less than 30% of all residents are very religious,” Newport writes.

These are Gallup’s Top 5 “Least Religious” States:

5. Alaska — Only 28 percent of the residents can be classified as “very religious”

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

4. Massachusetts — 28 percent

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

3. Maine — 25 percent
Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

2. New Hampshire — 23 percent

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

1. Vermont – 23 percent

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States

So how did Gallup go about putting together this report? That is, what does Gallup mean by “very religious” and how does one qualify as such?

“Gallup classifies 40% of Americans nationwide as very religious — based on their statement that religion is an important part of their daily life and that they attend religious services every week or almost every week,” Newport writes.

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States“Another 32% of Americans are nonreligious, based on their statement that religion is not an important part of their daily life and that they seldom or never attend religious services. The remaining 28% of Americans are moderately religious, because they say religion is important but that they do not attend services regularly or because they say religion is not important but still attend services,” he adds.

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious StatesBut why the huge discrepancy between the Southern states and New England? Apparently, it has to do with “state culture.”

Gallup explains:

Gallup research has shown that these state differences appear to be part of a “state culture” phenomenon, and are not the result of differences in the underlying demographics or religious identities in the states.
[...]
It appears there is something about the culture and normative structure of a state, no doubt based partly on that state’s history, that affects its residents’ propensity to attend religious services and to declare that religion is important in their daily lives.

So what’s the takeaway? What have we learned from Gallup?

“America remains a generally religious nation, with more than two-thirds of the nation’s residents classified as very or moderately religious. These overall national averages, however, conceal dramatic regional differences in religiosity across the 50 states and the District of Columbia,” Gallup reports.

And, of course, there are political implications [emphasis added]:

Religion is related to politics in today’s America, and it is clear from a glance at Gallup’s State of the States map that the most religious states in the union generally are the most Republican, while the least religious states skew more toward the Democratic Party. This means that the most divided states — and thus, those where most of the heavy-duty campaigning in this year’s presidential election will be taking place — are the ones where residents tend to be neither at the very religious nor at the nonreligious end of the spectrum.

Translation: President Obama shouldn’t worry about winning over Vermont as much as he should worry about Ohio. Likewise, whoever the GOP nominee is, he probably shouldn’t waste too much time campaigning in Maine and should focus more on, say, Arizona.

Click here to see Gallup’s methodology.

Gallup: The Top 5 Most Religious & Least Religious States
Click for an enlarged image.

Comments (287)

  • Atilla
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:53pm

    Guess the only real surprise here is the CA. One might have thought they were all athiest.

    Report Post »  
    • kmichaels
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:01pm

      CA is a big state, has lots of LDS members, lots of latinos and a fair number of blacks, all of which tend to be fairly religious.

      Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:06pm

      if you overlayed a map showing literacy rates by state, it would look about the same.

      Report Post »  
    • PlowMan
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:14pm

      True but Illinois is in the same spectrum as CA. We have Chicago and then the other 101 counties. I guarantee if IL and IN didn’t have Chicago and Gary (&Indy in IN) in them they would look more like the southern states. I would love to see a county by county map on this poll. It’s the same when you look at a county by county map at election time. Every time the cities go dem by a large margin and the country side goes repub.

      Report Post » PlowMan  
    • AmericanFightingMan1
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:03pm

      Washington and Oregon are home to the Wicken-tards. Very anti-religious, which is a different twist. These two states are very hostile to people of faith. And like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, they take your kids in their schools (ie., ovens) and “bake” the kids into lib-tards. I hope this country has a major awakening and ejects the poison that is liberalism/socialism/marxism/bolshevism.

      Report Post » AmericanFightingMan1  
    • HRLO
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:14pm

      I live in California, would love to move on, but limited $$ keep me here. All the bigger cities are the ones that house the un-religious. We stay away from them and they stay away from us. Except when they vacation and drop all their trash all over the roads, in the parks and in the forests. grrrr….

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:00pm

      Alaska must be even too cold for God

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • FreedomPurveyor
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:33pm

      “if you overlayed a map showing literacy rates by state, it would look about the same.”

      Not at all, actually.

      http://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/StateEstimates.aspx

      According to this, New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, and DC all have lower literacy rates than most southern states, while Utah has among the highest.

      Report Post » FreedomPurveyor  
    • Jase
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:39pm

      Not a surprise to me at all. There are a LOT of Christians in CA. Not just Catholic hispanics and LDS but it probably has more Evangelicals than any other state, but with nearly 40 million people you are going to have a lot of every denomination.

      Report Post » Jase  
    • rangerp
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:04pm

      the word “religion” is a mouthfull. Most times in the Bible, it is used with a negative meaning. James chapter on is an exception, where it claims that true religion is taking care of widows and orphans.

      In no way does a place being more religious make it less criminal. Most in Mexico would claim Roman Catholic, and we know how it is going in Mexico. Many African Americans will claim religion, but often it is a mix of “Christianity” ,superstition and a whole lot of sensual music geard toward self satisfaction, and not true worship

      Islamic nations are going to be 100% “religious”, and no where do you find more brutality toward woman, men that rape little boys, and people who mass murder each other with bombs, and all in the name of their peaceful religion.

      For the most part, religion is man’s feeble attempt to cover up sins. they come up with a list of do and do nots. They like to mix a little Bible, or another book, add stuff of their own, like prayers to Mary, buring candles, or using religous terms as part of language. Much of Arabic mentions Allah, and many greetings and sayings are religious in nature.

      True Christianity or religon (like in James 1:27) is more about relationship than rules, and centered around a Savior, and not standards. Generally those that have a true relationship with the Savior, will have higher standards, and they will not have to tell you about their religion, you will see it in their walk, talk, and actions. .

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • OlefromMN
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:05pm

      Thank God MN is above CA! (can I say that?)

      Report Post » OlefromMN  
    • JohnofOregon
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:00pm

      This is bogus. Liberals in this state (when they are not sacrificing kids), attend government worship services every day. They pray to there soulless idols like our governor -dr. Death II, pray to government to provide moral guidance to steal, provide magic government gifts. IT IS A RELIGION

      Report Post »  
    • PoliticiansRCrooks
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:33pm

      It is impossible to find out what state is most religious. Were you asked?? I wasn’t. Stop believing stupid statistics.

      Report Post » PoliticiansRCrooks  
    • Female
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:32pm

      CA had several mass exodus’S and spread their wonder to the north (OR< WA) and a bit to the east (NV, CO, WY).

      Report Post »  
    • thedweh
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:50pm

      @politiciansrcrooks you weren’t asked because nobody wants your opinion

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:16am

      rangerp made a statement I actually agree with: “True Christianity or religion (like in James 1:27) is more about relationship than rules, and centered around a Savior, and not standards. Generally those that have a true relationship with the Savior, will have higher standards, and they will not have to tell you about their religion, you will see it in their walk, talk, and actions.”

      Awesome post rangerp, and I mean that.

      I’m not sure why you felt the need associate your thoughtful comment with negative comments about blacks, catholics and Muslims. Your comment about your religion stands on its own and isn’t elevated at all by stepping on others you disagree with.

      rangerp, positive, affirmational statements of what you believe are sufficient and stand on their own. Negative comparisons to other beliefs only detract from, confuse and diminish the ideas you’ve expressed.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Lux
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:24am

      “Wide-ranging research shows that highly religious people lead markedly different lives than others: they can expect to be happier and healthier and to have stronger marriages and families.

      The promise of a better life to the Lord’s followers appears often in scripture. In Proverbs, we read, “Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Prov. 16:20). Jesus himself declared, “I am come that [believers] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

      But is the abundant life of religious people a measurable form of existence, apparent to observers and believers alike? Or is it, as the seventeenth-century scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal surmised, hidden to all but “those who genuinely seek [God]”?

      Until recently, the good life enjoyed by the religious seemed to have been hidden if not to the outside world, then at least to the scientific community at large. As a whole, academicians and scientists tend to ignore, if not discredit, religion’s influence and its doctrines. But individual studies have emerged in recent decades examining religion and the way it affects people’s lives. Now a small but growing minority of scientists, sociologists, doctors, and psychologists are proclaiming that religion offers a better life: better mentally, better emotionally, and better physically. The results of their studies belie the often-prevalent scientific and academic notion that religion’s influence is either negative or neutral

      Report Post » Lux  
    • Lux
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:28am

      “The results also proclaim that not just any religion provides this better life. Interestingly, studies now frequently distinguish between people whose religion simply means believing in God and people whose religion, be it Latter-day Saint or other, means an active, undeniable life-style commitment—one involving church attendance, personal prayer, and a strong inclination to seek God’s will.

      The results? The “highly religious” (as many researchers call them) of many sects and creeds lead markedly different lives, empirically and statistically, than those who are less committed or those who are nonbelieving: they can literally expect not only to be happier and healthier but also to have stronger marriages, stronger families, and stronger inclinations to help others.

      It is true that God “sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). Practicing believers obviously experience life’s share of personal sorrow, family difficulties, illness, and pain. Yet studies are finding that religiously committed persons derive from their faith an ability to more ably cope, overcome, and find meaning—rather than hopelessness—in life’s challenges. For them, the abundant life promised by scripture becomes a living, even measurable reality (see Matt. 5:13–14; Matt. 6:33–34).” http://www.lds.org/ensign/1994/10/religion-and-the-abundant-life?lang=eng

      Report Post » Lux  
    • mauijonny
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:56am

      Huh. HI actually has a pretty high Catholic and Mormon contingency. I’m surprised by this.

      Report Post » mauijonny  
    • INTHEBROTHERHOOD
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:00am

      whos gallup anyway? and what percent of the states population does he use to estimate the the total percent? “ religious” has too many variables to correctly poll.

      Report Post » INTHEBROTHERHOOD  
    • absolutoz
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:49am

      at least learn how to spell atheist

      Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:03am

      @JZS

      concerning what you called “negative comments about blacks, catholics and Muslims”

      None of that was opinion, I was stating facts drawn from reality.

      Much evil is done in the name of religion, thus the reason I also spoke of “true religion”. Murder in the name of Islam is not some unknown secret. In case you did not realize it, it is the reason for 9-11, and the reason for much of the genocide going on in Africa.

      A little study of Roman Catholic history, and once again, you see murder and slaughter in the name of religion. The Catholics murdered christians by the tens of thousands.

      If you read my whole post, it all relates.

      Thanks,

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • Pacapapa
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:50am

      Californicators should not be a surprise, not with all the cults running around out there. What is a surprise is that anyone would give any kind of creedence to such a ridiculous poll. This isn’t a christianity poll. They are counting anybody that calls themselves religous..cults, wickens, new-agers, amish, muslims, mormons, jews, etc. Spare us.
      There is only one true God, the one that came to earth to die in your place for your sins.

      Report Post »  
    • linearnonlinear
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:54am

      Lol

      Report Post »  
    • GiveUsJustice
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:55am

      Vermont is a state? Never heard of it.

      Report Post » GiveUsJustice  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:59am

      “…the most religious states in the union generally are the most Republican, while the least religious states skew more toward the Democratic Party.”

      And they wonder why we paint the Democrat Party as the Party of godless heathens.

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • AmazingGrace8
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:52am

      @AmericanFigtMan

      Wasn’t there a story about the Wicken-tards that placed something foreign in a food buffet to get even with the citizens of that town a few years ago? Can’t remember if it was Oregon or Washington state.
      Scary!

      Report Post »  
    • RevDave
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:06pm

      KMichaels is right. In addition, we’ve got a lot of the “I’m spiritual but not religious” crowd, and it‘s a crapshoot on how they’d answer the question. A lot of white R. Catholics and Anglicans as well, many of them liberation theology types, so a lib political slant doesn’t always relate to religiosity.

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:55pm

      @CLIVE,

      Then clearly, you need to go back to school for some more indoctrination, and “drinking beer with girls”, because you are lacking some basic skill sets.

      Take another look at the map Clive. Look at all the pretty colors, and the words associated with those colors.

      Now, compare what you just looked at with what you just posted.

      You see Clive, I know what you were really to convey to us “simpletons”, but it didn’t come out quite right, did it?

      To put it in the words of your generation…………“EPIC FAIL”

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • AllAmericanGirl22
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 2:04pm

      That’s what I thought.

      Report Post » AllAmericanGirl22  
    • AndYetItMoves
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:21pm

      “The average Southerner has the speech patterns of someone slipping in and out of consciousness. I can change my shoes and socks faster than most people in Mississippi can speak a sentence”

      James Arthur Baldwin

      Report Post »  
    • Dde13
      Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:10am

      I live in Cali, born and raised. The small town I live in would fit right in to the most religous state, It’s a big state. if you havn’t heard of SB48 check it out, its a gay and lesbian law to push their lifesyles on our schools, K-12, ii don’t believe most Californians agree with it. We didn’t get to vote for it. Thus we homeschool our kids for religous and moral reasons. Jerry Brown is a loon.

      Report Post »  
    • Goldenyears22
      Posted on April 18, 2012 at 11:10pm

      No, but way too many are just securalist who don’t care one way or the other, but we have Christians here. Liberals do not tend to depend on God for anything as long as the government can take care of them. But one day no person will be dependent on the government when death knocks at their door. They are alone.

      Report Post »  
  • bhelmet
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:49pm

    Sad that many of the states that played such a HUGE role in our Founding are now amongst “the least religious”.

    Report Post » bhelmet  
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:55pm

      But are much more moral and safe than the religious states – figure that one out.

      Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:07pm

      DoseofReality: The less religious states are “more moral and safe than the religious states.” True, but there’s an exception to every rule. In this case, Nevada.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • teddrunk
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:34pm

      Moral? Based on what? Supporting infanticide is moral?

      Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:36pm

      Lloyd Drako

      Lower religion in those far northeast states is not the answer to why their crime is so low. Check the demographic break down for those states. Where you have higher minorities, you have higher crimes.

      Use black populations for example. While they make up only 13% of the total population, they commit just under 50% of the nations murders. When you takes some of those cities in the south that have over 50% black populations (Birmingham, Alabama for example), you end up with very high crime.

      This is not a racist comment, it is a reality comment. check the FBI Uniform Crime reports under arrests, and then hit Table 42 (it might be table 43, but around there).

      You can also look at the following link for US city stats. http://www.city-data.com/ Go directly to race break down, and check the minority population, then see if correlates to crime (it will).

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • kmichaels
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:43pm

      The lowest religion states do have less crime. Most likely because they also tend to shun blacks and latinos from their general population. These groups, mostly democrats, tend not to fair well in the lowest religion states. Think of these east coast states and then try to picture very many blacks in them. It just does not happen. These are you Ted Kennedy types that are ok to have blacks and latinos that are the hired help but they would complain if they were their neighbors.

      Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:24pm

      RangerP:

      Sure, you are right about minorities–at least the black one. Small towns in Connecticut for the most part have lower crime rates than Hartford or New Haven. Similarly, small towns in Georgia have lower crime rates than Atlanta.

      But see also my comment above about the very distinct southern and New England cultures. Both were founded by religious people–who wasn’t religious back in the 17th century? New England and its outliers in the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest were able to shed a lot of formal religion while still maintaining the communal spirit of their founders. The South if anything has become more religious since pioneer days, but it’s a religion that focuses on individual salvation rather than collective improvement.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:12pm

      I remember when I was working in Oklahoma in 1999. I went out with this lovely girl who talked about her church and the bible as we were driving off to a restaurant. I realised that I was in a bit of trouble, but in these cases I have found that it is always best to come clean early on.

      “I’m sorry to tell you this, but I’m an atheist. I hope you don’t mind.”

      “No, that’s OK. My last boyfriend was a muslim.”

      A lovely girl, as I’ve said. Religion is an important part of many people’s lives, but there is no point in being silly about it.

      Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:52pm

      Lloyd Drako

      Georgia started out as a penal county. I lived for 16 years on the Georgia and Alabama line.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • lukerw
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 9:02pm

      Ditto!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • pattybbb1
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:50pm

      Founding Fathers decendants moved south! ha

      Report Post »  
  • MeMadMax
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:45pm

    There is no correlation between religion and violence, either for, or against.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/13/10-most-violent-states_n_848317.html#s263628&title=1_Louisiana

    Report Post » MeMadMax  
  • saranda
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:24pm

    Isn’t it also true that so called red states, or in this case religious states, take more out in fed money than paid in via taxes? Wonder what that means?

    Report Post »  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:39pm

      I’ve always wondered if that was the case:

      http://reason.com/archives/2011/07/14/the-redblue-paradox

      Report Post »  
    • Fed up in Bama
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:57pm

      What it means is…….The South is made up of the ‘working class’, which falls, often, below the poverty line and they pay in less taxes than say, CA or NY…that’s where all the Rich Ppl live that pay in ALL the taxes.
      If you want to see what States recieves the MOST federal Dollars (not by what they take in) than look toward NY, CA.
      http://www.economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/states-that-received-the-most-federal-funds

      Report Post » Fed up in Bama  
    • CougarNick78
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:00pm

      Do you have proof, or just more atheist lies?

      Report Post » CougarNick78  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:04pm

      One would expect California and New York to be on that list because they have huge populations.

      Report Post »  
    • KyleD
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:24pm

      It’s actually a pretty simple answer. Those states are densely populated and are more populated with higher income households who can afford to live there (because the cost of living is also higher) and also have the headquarters of most large businesses. More income means higher tax bracket and larger percent of cash being funneled to the government per person. Also, the south is largely farmland, a heavily subsidized industry. Also, the democrats in southern states tend to be religious as well.

      Report Post »  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:19pm

      Don’t forget all of the government jobs that the blue states tend to have, LOL.

      Report Post »  
  • Copo
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:19pm

    So apparently I’m moving to Mississippi

    Report Post » Copo  
    • nealb4zodd
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:19pm

      or Utah. – -i think you’d like the mountains. good clean air.

      Report Post » nealb4zodd  
    • SoBrave
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:26am

      Mississippi is has the lowest median household income. Also, a quick google search reveals that Mississippi has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country.

      Go with Utah.

      Report Post »  
  • WashingtonIsMyHero
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:18pm

    It’s telling that we religious folks only amount to a little over 50% in the best of states. As we lose religion we gain more criminal and immoral behavior. And more aggressive and organized atheism.

    Report Post » WashingtonIsMyHero  
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:26pm

      You really think there is more crime and immoral behavior now than there was a hundred years ago? two hundred years ago? Thats what makes me laugh at all of you – the world is the best its ever been, you long for this false utopia that never existed. Im sure genocide and slavery are considered moral to you, not to me. We have come a long way to improving our morality, not reducing it. Your a joke….

      Report Post »  
    • one.dakine.howlie
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:37pm

      DOSEOFREALITY. I think you should take some advice from your own screen name. It’s a historically measured fact that this country has steadily increased in immorality and criminal behavior. Eventually this harsh REALITY will bare its ugly face at your door one day so I’m not going to waste anymore of my time arguing the point with you as time will prove my point for me.

      Report Post »  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:40pm

      Crime levels seem to be cyclical. We’re in a better period now than some periods in the past.

      Report Post »  
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:43pm

      One – you are wrong – 100% wrong. But Im not going to be able to convince you of that….silly flat earther.

      Report Post »  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:52pm

      Hey DOSE try to convince me. I swear to keep an open mind and listen politely until your done, that is if you’re wiling to do the same.

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:58pm

      Goahead…first there is that little issue of genocide of the entire native population…then there is the issue of slavery. If you dont think we have morally advance from that, i dont know what to tell you. In addition, these early cities and towns back in colonial times, through the 19th and early 20th centuries had very high rates of prostitution, murder, rioting, lynch mobs, vigilante justice etc. Im about to leave work and dont have the stats right here to back it up, but ill try to get on later with more concrete facts.

      Report Post »  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:42pm

      Please post the facts then I’d be happy to debate you when I know where your basing your argument from.

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
    • kmichaels
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:55pm

      Why do dopes like DoseOfReality rarely post things that are real and true? Instead they sound like nazi propagandists that if they ever post a true comment it seems that they did so accidentally.

      Report Post »  
    • SoNick
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:42pm

      And why do dopes like kmichaels immediately go for the nazi analogy, that most vile of ad hominems?

      Report Post »  
    • beckwasfox
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:29pm

      @Doseof Reality-There is a genocide taking place which you support, it is the genocide against the unborn. There is slavery taking place which you support, the slavery called redistribution of wealth. You represent immorality and crime.

      Report Post » beckwasfox  
  • hi
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:08pm

    No wonder I feel like a square peg where I live so I have to go n the Blaze to find like-minded people! JK

    Changing the subject…I know Hawaii is VERY Christian. I know the poll isn’t accurate due to it saying it is not.

    Report Post » hi  
    • one.dakine.howlie
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:34pm

      Having lived in Hawai’i for two years I can say that the state is absolutely full of “shallow Christians”. They’ll tell you all day about how much they love Jesus and how much Jesus loves them but when it comes to actually attending church services and/or living principles of the Gospel there isn’t as much enthusiasm.
      Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love Hawai’i and the people there. I’m just stating an obvious fact.

      Report Post »  
    • HotFixIt
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:37pm

      You are lucky to live whre you can speak and make a difference to people who need to learn the truth. Everywhere I go I chat with others around me and it seems we all think about the same…. comforting but not a lot of mind changing needed. LOL I am in West Texas!

      I have a Jewish friend active in the Tea Party in the Los Angeles area…. now, she has her hands full! Lots of push back there! I envy her at times for the opportunities.

      Report Post »  
    • SoNick
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:48pm

      @HI
      “I know the poll is wrong”. Puh-leeze! That’s something I see a lot here on the Blaze. If a poll doesn’t match your shallow understanding of reality, you attack the pollster and scream about liberal bias. Listen: if you happen to be a religious person and associate with like minded people, you might think atheists don’t really exist, because you never see them. Try getting out of your bubble once in a while and you might realize that the “overwhelming majority of Americans” that you think you’re a part of is not so overwhelming after all.

      Report Post »  
    • hi
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:16pm

      @Sonick
      I am basing it on the fact that the kids pray before and after sports games, they have “Merry Christmas” signs in the store windows instead of ‘Holiday,” they take Good Friday off for a holiday there, there are numerous cars with Christian bumper stickers or fish, and on my personal experiences of how it is there vs where I live.

      Report Post » hi  
    • TruthAlways801
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:38pm

      There is a reason that Hawaii is known for it’s slacking and the “Hawaii Standard Time”, a bunch of really lazy people so it makes sense that they would be lazy in their christian faith as well.

      Report Post »  
    • TheJeffersonian
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 2:18pm

      @HI

      That‘s what’s known as “anecdotal evidence”, and is universally discounted as a basis for scientific estimation.

      Report Post » TheJeffersonian  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:08pm

    .
    Wouldn’t it be nice if the States were fighting to be Number One in that category…….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • biblestudyspacecom
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:05pm

    New World Order Bush Regime Endorses Cult Leader Romney.

    The Establishment is pushing Romney at all costs. God forbid Mitt Romney is the nominee, 30 to 40 millions Bible Believing Christians will stay home and not vote like 2008. Christian America is already dying. Rockefeller Republicans on Capitol Hill have taken over the Republican party, they just want the Christian Vote. They much rather get invited to a Mitt Romney cocktail parties and avoid awkward Christian issues.

    2012 Rockefeller Republicans rally around Mitt Romney and George W. Bush even after the No Child Left Behind, Medicare Part D, the GM Bailout, and TARP. The Christians will cease taking conservatives Rockefeller Republicans seriously because they keep throwing their lot in with a guy who keeps selling out the very principles Christians claim to hold dear.

    The only time Mitt Romney and the Rockefeller Republicans pays any attention to Christian issues is when they cry loud enough that the media takes notice and Romney decides the story needs to go away. Once he is the nominee, it will be all about wooing the independents.

    Just like McCain did with Palin, don’t delude yourself into thinking he will seriously take conservatives or Christian people seriously. He got the nomination without them and he’ll only use them when it is opportunistically convenient for him. Christian itself will not really die, but the Bush-Romney Regime will never win.

    Report Post » biblestudyspacecom  
    • drago
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:13pm

      @spacecadet aka encinom.
      Did you think of that all on your own, or did media matters do it for you, my guess is the latter. Moron….

      Report Post »  
    • moreoilplease
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:16pm

      Uh, what?

      Report Post »  
    • edmundburk
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:41pm

      would’t trouble you if media matters and the whole progressive establishment were FOR romney?

      Report Post » edmundburk  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:56pm

      Well, at least you guys were warned. Dont be suprised when the “i told you so”s become overwhelming

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • dnewton
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:51am

      I think that some people will go to the polls and vote for other candidates, but when it comes to pulling the lever for Romney, they won’t do it. This will be a very small percentage of the total. The reason will be that voting for a Mormon gives approval to that religion and many will be drawn to it and be deceived. People who think like this also disapprove of the Church of Rome. Essentially they have a choice between two apostate religions. If you council them to vote for the good of the country, they do not trust in government or the institutions of men. Some other reason must be used, but I don’t know what it is. Redistributionism is theft. Inflating the money is theft. Our Debt is inter generational theft. The pretexts for the theft, Global Warming, Economic Development, it’s all for the children, are lies. Classic evangelicals who have not yet traded in the Great Commission for social justice, Green Bibles and saving the planet have some hard choices ahead.

      Report Post »  
  • iampraying4u
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:03pm

    So ?

    Report Post »  
  • Mandors
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:02pm

    Just an observation, but don’t most of the nonreligious state have higher suicide rates?

    Report Post » Mandors  
    • hi
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:16pm

      More STD’s too.

      Report Post » hi  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:27pm

      and more dems in control. my state of wa was what 42nd on the list and the dems have had control for as long as I can remember. the welfare state replaces God and the people chose government over their Creator. I always new i was in the minority here but those statistics are frightening.

      Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:42pm

      Actually, no. That’s not so much an observation as a fabrication, easily debunked by anyone who actually checked the facts. The Northeast has the lowest suicide rate. You get the highest rates in the west. The top states are Montana, Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho. If there is a trend, it is that states with generally low population density produce the highest rates.

      Report Post »  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:43pm

      States with most suicides: Alaska, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, West Virginia, Utah, Oregon

      http://www.cdc.gov/NCHS/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf

      Report Post »  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:47pm

      It seems the Bible Belt states seem to have the greatest rate of STD’s.

      http://www.cdc.gov/std/health-disparities/location.htm

      Report Post »  
    • Atilla
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:59pm

      Lubec, Maine was at one time the suicide capitol of the US. If you go there you will know why.

      Report Post »  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:14pm

      Wow WVERNON1981 the rate for chlamydia is >400 for the wilderness of alaska! I would like to remind you that the south is the area that has the most spread out cities while in the north there are fewer cities but of higher population. The map you posted does rate by confirmed cases comped to pop, so the lower the pop the higher the higher the rate. here’s a pop map if your interested.
      http://www.populationlabs.com/US_Population.asp

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:23pm

      Yes, you’re correct. The presentation of the data on the map left the wrong impression on me.

      Report Post »  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:39pm

      It’s a very easy mistake to make. I believe that was the intention with this map. If you notice how far up the scale goes, that scale makes it easy for say the Tallahassee area here in FL with only 181,376 pop to match up to
      NYC 8,008,278 Bronx 1,332,650 Brooklyn 2,465,326 Manhattan 1,537,195 Queens 2,229,379 Staten Island 443,728
      (http://www.citypopulation.de/USA-Florida.html and http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/census/popcur.shtml)
      The key to reading these maps correctly is comparing them to population.

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
  • Bolo2811
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:00pm

    The PROOF if is the pudding so to speak. Obama and his socialist horde seem to believe that Jesus was a socialist. Oh Really? Then why is it that the FURTHER you get from Christ the MORE socialist you become? Vermont who happens to occupy the #1 least religious state NOW has an openly socialist senator while the MOST religious states are FIRMLY PRO-LIFE- PRO GOD- and PRO GUN.
    It‘s no secret that The America we see today with it’s beautiful high rises and liberties (the ones that still remain) are the product of CHRISTIAN principles set in place by CHRISTIAN men and women almost 300 years ago. It’s scary to think that “IF” there were another George Washington or Abe Lincoln among us today, we would NEVER see them hold the offices TODAY that they held then. They would be labled homophobic right wing religious extremists who should be silenced. Wellm guess what? you liberal/socialist morons will get EXACTLY what you deserve. A dictatorial leader who once he “uses” you to take power he will rid himself of his “useful idiots” and relegate you to the annals of history as the generation that was so STUPID to believe that you were the “enlightened ones” and thought you were so smart, smarter even than the founding fathers who bore this nation, that you could establish socialism and yet KEEP the benefits of a Christian FREE state. History HAS and yet will again, prove you who voted for obama as MORONS.

    Report Post »  
    • Kathleen
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:53pm

      Someone should ask, if Jesus were a Socialist, then why did he teach all people to care and share and not just head to the Govt of the time and ask them to share on behalf of the people?

      Report Post »  
    • Atilla
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:08pm

      Here we have a pardox with Vermont. It has one of the most constitutional gun laws in the country. Generalizations are not constructive or instructive. A per capita measurment of suicide rates might account for the more suicides in low population density areas of the country. The cause and effect of religion VS non religion I would suggest is speculative at best.

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:21pm

      Kathleen, Jesus ASKED people to care and share. He didn’t say the government should require to do so. In fact, if you are forced to do good works, you don‘t really get the credit for them since you aren’t doing them for the right reasons.

      Report Post »  
  • DoseofReality
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:59pm

    Interesting – the religious states have more violence, much less educated, much poorer, much more obese, higher divorce stats, higher out of wedlock births, higher welfare recipients…the nonreligious states are the educated, safe, healthier and have stronger familes (less divorce, etc). No surprise to me at all, thankfully I live in New England with the sane, educated folks.

     
    • Mandors
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:06pm

      Your “educated states” also have higher suicide rates, and they don’t have lower divorce rates. Oh, and how does Maine rank in your comparison? Not very high, which you probably are, New English genius.

      Report Post » Mandors  
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:13pm

      They absolutley do have lower divorce rates, lower out of wedlock birth rates – no question – do a simple google search genius. And your right, there is a slight, VERY slight higher suicide rate. Thats one stat out of every single other one…and its a miniscule difference. The differences in education, divorce, crime, welfare dollars taken vs. money paid, etc far outweigh that. But its OK, I dont mind us wealthier, educated people supporting you southern welfare queens, without it who knows where you would be. You owe us a big thank you….

      Report Post »  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:22pm

      DoseofReality – really? Do you have facts to back up your statements? As far as more educated – God will make fools of the wise.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • girlnurse
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:25pm

      “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” Romans 1:22

      Report Post » girlnurse  
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:35pm

      Google..use it. Oh never mind they are part of a big conspiracy too arent they? Well yahoo it then….all the stats are out there for anyone to see if they chose.

       
    • DoseofReality
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:54pm

      NH…God will make fools of the wise huh? So does that mean you are against education becasue God is? I dont understand that…..is wisdom and questioning bad in some way? Does that make you foolish? Maybe thats why all these southern states are so, so dumb….

      Report Post »  
    • girlnurse
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:07pm

      DOSE: These things are spiritually discerned. I’ll give you one example:
      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/arts/christopher-hitchens-is-dead-at-62-obituary.html?pagewanted=all

      Report Post » girlnurse  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:16pm

      In the more religious states who is taking the Welfare? The church goers or someone else? These are large states with diverse populations.

      On top of that Virginia & Maryland are Welfare states. It is called the federal government. So much of what the government does is not necessary or has a padded payroll.

      Report Post »  
    • Atilla
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:17pm

      “The religious states have more violence? Where the H is that statistical info found. Ever been to Tampa FL at midnight? Or say Roxbury MA at midnight? Violent crime is a local issue and cannot be extrarpolated into a cause and effect of the absence of religion. Preposterous.

      Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:24pm

      The explanation for all this may lie in what Gallup says, but does not really explain, about “culture.”

      The New England states, except reprobate Rhode Island, were founded by Puritans who, while certainly religious, were also very community-minded folk. They valued public schooling, fostered collective debate and decision-making at town meetings, established commons areas where they pastured their animals, and so on. Over time, the strictly religious element in their culture faded, but not the strong communal instinct, nor the belief, eventually to be called progressive, that communities continually ought to seek improvement and reform. Internecine violence was rare, though of course plenty of mayhem was unleashed on Indians like the Pequots. This culture spread west, largely by migration of entire communities, across upstate New York and the Upper Midwest, and early on established outposts in the Pacific Northwest. Utah was founded by New Englanders too, and has remained religious, but in a very different way than Alabama!

      Most of the South, on the other hand, was settled by individuals or families, not entire communities.
      Both planters and “crackers” cultivated a touchy sense of honor and a liking for settling disputes with weapons rather than words. Religion was propagated by circuit riders and itinerant preachers. Slavery no doubt lent an extra element of brutality to southern life, for black and white alike. I say this as a (literal) Vermont-Mississippi hybri

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • goahead.makemyday
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:32pm

      DOSE instead of saying something then when trying to dodge backing it up by telling someone they’re an idiot show us proof. At least make an effort to show proof and we’ll take you seriously. Otherwise your a troll and we then have a cause to either ignore you or make fun of you. Like proof that suicide is higher in the south well here’s.
      http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/statistics/suicide_map.html
      Notice that the lighter the area the more heavily populated the area so there are more people the counter those who commit suicide. Also while your statement saying that the NE states have lower RATE the “bible belt” which I remind you has less popultion is far from the highest suicide RATE while the areas with the LEAST population has the highest RATE. Now for crime. I couldn’t find any maps but.
      http://www.infoplease.com/us/statistics/crime-rate-state.html

      Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
    • TOMSERVO
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:50pm

      @Girlnurse: Wow. So God must’ve really hated Andrew Breitbart, eh?

      Report Post »  
    • Oregon Web Foot
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:52pm

      Dose….Knowledge and wisdom are two separate things. Come on man. You are arguing for the sake of arguing. Use your cranium.

      Report Post »  
    • girlnurse
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:23pm

      @TOMSERVO: First of all…again you liberals have a thing with the “H” word. I do not believe I said anything about “hate”. Andrew Breitbart? I have no idea what you mean by that. I for one loved Andrew Breitbart. He seemed wise in many ways. Perfect? None of us are. Christian? Athiest? I don’t know. Have you looked at whats being taught in our Universities these days? Unfortunately the gubment has fostered the environment where you must have a degree to have many careers out there. But not necessary…and you wont learn anything but Marxist propaganda unless it’s a practical career like I picked, nursing. I mean look how far Glenn has come without a degree.
      But I digress….Im so sorry…I didn’t quite understand your comment.
      But here are some things God DOES hate:

      “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

      Report Post » girlnurse  
    • RebelYell1862
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:40pm

      @DOSEOFREALITY Youn sound like the average angry, bitter, nasty, filthy yankee spewing all that trash. You don’t know a damn thing about DIXIE. You’re just BITTER. A bitter yankee whose nasty UnGodly area of the country did’nt make the right list. Thank God I’m Southern and Southern to the bone. Any place north of I-40 is too far north for me.

      Report Post » RebelYell1862  
    • TOMSERVO
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:53pm

      @Girlnurse: It was obvious that you were inferring that Christopher Hitchens was “spiritually discerned” to to be unworthy of living past 62. Based on the fact that you determined that solely on how long he lived, I assume you would further infer that Andrew Breitbart must have been “spiritually discerned” to be unworthy of living past 41 (or however old he was).

      Report Post »  
    • Atilla
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:47pm

      I live in Ma with the rest of the communist morons and ashamed almost daily to live in this political cesspool that is devoid of coherant thought process and whos generational dependancy class is a blight on society.

      Report Post »  
    • girlnurse
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:06pm

      @TOMSERVO: No thats NOT at all what I was saying. I was talking about Christopher Hitchens and all his degrees of higher learning and being a staunch athiest who fought against God for almost his entire life. He is a perfect example of a man who believes he is too wise and learned to accept a silly fable like Christianity”…YET, he died and he, in all his power, knowledge, wisdom, civility, and culture could not stop it, explain it, or make sense of it. Im not insinuating that God took him early–I don’t know that. I actually think it is very sad-I did like the man and prayed for him to get saved…I don’t know of he ever repented…only God knows.

      Report Post » girlnurse  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:06pm

      Those wonderful Puritans, the likes of which spawned Oliver Cromwell and his reign of terror in England. The same kind of religion that would massacre the Irish, then enslave their children to the West Indies.

      Those ever righteous Puritans, who went on to form early socialist communities and exact their righteous fever on anyone who disagreed with their piety. I seem to recall they would go on expeditions to the south, particularly to aprehend and beat those of the Quaker, Baptist, Catholic or any other religion that didn’t suit them. Such tolerance is admirable.

      Oh, Praise for the American saviors of the Puritan race! Thier Pharasee righteousness prevails!

      You Pharasees rolled over during the Revolution (which was won by the South), and threatened secession yourself in 1812 to protect your subsidized shipping to England. The very existence of subsidy in this nation is your invention, to aid in the “improvement of community”. Yet, you Puritans would not forgo any of your subsidy for the purchase of the slaves you so loved? You loved the mindset of Cromwell more – still do.

      There is no real honor in a Puritan heritage. It can rightfully be traced to the very woes our nation has suffered on any topic whatsoever. Economy, war, and home-grown communism.

      DeToqueville had you guys pegged, he also had us southerners pegged as well. We’ll never get along, we never have. I’ll be a Publican to your Pharasee any day of the week.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 8:13pm

      Doseofreality – People up in the Northeast also have lower marriage rates and have more federal government jobs that overpay workers, lol.

      Report Post »  
    • MammalOne
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 4:00am

      @GIRLNURSE
      “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”

      This saying applies to both sides of this argument.

      Report Post » MammalOne  
  • PeaceAndHarmony
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:56pm

    All these states that are the most religious and most conservative are also the least educated and poorest, with the highest rates of crime and divorce. And they take in more federal dollars than they pay in. Almost all of the least religious and least politically conservative states have low crime, low divorce, high education, and pay more in to the federal government than they get back.

    What can we learn from this pattern?

    Report Post »  
    • WashingtonIsMyHero
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:14pm

      Your stats have any independent support? A poor education is the fault of the greedy, lefty teachers unions. If a state is poor I would look to which party has been running it into the ground.

      Report Post » WashingtonIsMyHero  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:38pm

      WashingtonIsMyHero: The poorest states are in the South, where most governors have been Republican for at least the last twenty years.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • SoNick
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 6:06pm

      @washington
      How dare you blame the sorry state of public education on teachers and unions? They are not the ones who underfund the system. Nor are they the ones who fight to get pseudo science like creationism in the classrom. A lot of people commenting on this thread would have us believe that the lack of religious belief is the greatest cause of moral decay. I would argue that attacking people who dedicate their lives to the enlightenment and education of children is as amoral as it gets.

      Report Post »  
  • Infidel49
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:52pm

    One of the dumbest polls I have ever seen. Only God knows what is in the hearts of men.

    Report Post » Infidel49  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:23pm

      Or as we say up here in the northeast, nobody knows what is in the hearts of men.

      Report Post »  
    • GumRock
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 10:17pm

      Looking at the way this poll was worded,
      Are you: Very, Moderately or Nonreligious.
      convert that to, do you believe in God?
      Then you would add Very and Moderately together as, Yes
      Non religious as No
      Result: 75% of Americans Believe in “A Higher Power”
      25% do not.

      Report Post » GumRock  
  • howiekwix1
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:51pm

    Well that means that 40 of the states should truly be concerned about The Obama administrations approval of aborted fetus use within consumer products. Pepsi is the latest in the line of approval, using the aborted fetus in their new product Pepsi Next. review the list of other products which use aborted fetus‘ some fetus are 19 week old male fetus’. Visit here for the list http://bit.ly/Ho97Dh which is located on the right hand side of the page.

    Report Post »  
  • girlnurse
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:41pm

    So Lumbar: You think there’s a correlation between poverty and Gods love? How bout color of skin? Nope. How bout social status? Nope…not so much. Jesus didn’t even have a place to lay his head at night…he was pretty poor by “worldly” standards, but He rules the universe to this day and He created the air you are breathing right now.
    You see lumbar, “His ways are not our ways”. One day when you bite the dust, (and you WILL bite the dust)–when you come before Him, He’s not going to ask you what kind of car you drove or how much money you made on your job, or how much you influenced the world for Socialism and athiesm. He will say; “Lumbar, Did you know my son?“ ”What did you do with my Son?“ ”Did you believe on Him? Did you trust Him?“ ”Did, you follow His commandments? “Did you love Him with all your heart and love others as you would have them love you?” No? “Depart from me, I never knew you”

    Report Post » girlnurse  
    • Infidel49
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:54pm

      It is at that very moment you will realize your error, but it will be too late for you. Make sure you dress in cool clothing, I hear it is very hot where you will be going.

      Report Post » Infidel49  
    • howiekwix1
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:03pm

      Uh actually Jesus ministry was very rich. His ministry was not one of meagerness and welfare, His was about abundance, prosperity, peace and joy. His apostles were at the top of the food chain (per say), His father was a carpenter (much needed skill). I would not say His ministry was wealthy but well to do. We have been taught to believe these lies, however, when your teaching to five thousand and their giving alms and love offerings you are doing much better than the poorest of these. I do not condemn Christ, I applaude Him for giving us the example of Chistian living within an evil world. Abraham wealthy, Job wealthy, Jacob wealthy, Wondering Jews wealthy, Paul wealthy, John wealthy etc etc. Please, we need to understand the Kingdom of God, it’s about abundance. We serve a living God. Look at the average American citizen compared to the average wordly citizen, WEALTHY!!! Now, we have lost site of wealth within America, and base it on materialism today, however, America and Americans are the wealthiest people in the world. Thank You Jesus!!! How poor are weathier than the worlds poor, and have a whole lot more…. Thank You Jesus!!!

      Report Post »  
    • girlnurse
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:20pm

      @HOWIE: “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.”
      “But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions”.

      Doesn’t sound like they were rich to me…..

      Report Post » girlnurse  
    • one.dakine.howlie
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:46pm

      GIRLNURSE. Read a King James Bible instead of the “man’s translation of the Bible” your pastor gave you. The day I saw these new translations of the Bible I knew there would be problems because you have some guy with a “degree” in Christianity making his own translation of what the Bible is saying and giving it to people as doctrine. Yet there are so many layers of doctrine in that original translation that people miss out on. Hence why your translation of that scripture makes you assume that Christ and His Apostles didn’t have wealth.

      Report Post »  
    • girlnurse
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 4:03pm

      DAKINE: Yea I do…okay here ya go. King James version, Same thing.

      “Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
      But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions”.

      The point is Jesus and the apostles were not rich folk. They were not needy because God provides and they shared everything. But they did NOT store up their treasures here on earth!
      uhhh 401k-investments, etc. Don’t shoot the messenger or get convicted on my account. Read it for yourself.
      “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Luke 18:22

      Report Post » girlnurse  
  • RobMac68
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:40pm

    I am just glad to see West Virginia in the top half instead of the bottom.

    Report Post »  
  • Marine25
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:35pm

    31% of America is “non-religious”. That is the most interesting number here.
    It is also interesting that if you remove Utah, the top ten is virtually a carbon-copy of the top ten states with the poorest education systems, which is also a virtual lock with the top-ten poorest states.
    High religiousity tied to poor education and poverty? Is anyone surprised?

    Report Post »  
    • troymac20
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:44pm

      I’m not.

      Report Post » troymac20  
    • RobMac68
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:53pm

      Appalacia has always been the poorest and lowest educated in the country. I doubt you can tie that to religion. Do a google search on who is more religious, the poor or the rich. Usually the polls say the wealthier, the more religious….which would be total opposite of the point you were making.

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    • bifgroovey
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 12:47pm

      Studies of Mormons in the US show that Mormons with higher education attend church more regularly than uneducated Mormons. Survey research indicated that 41% of Mormons with only elementary school education attend church regularly, compared to 76% of Mormon college graduates and 78% of Mormons who went beyond their college degrees to do graduate study attending church regularly.

      Stan L. Albrecht, “The Consequential Dimension of Mormon Religiosity” Latter-Day Saint Social Life, Social Research on the LDS Church and its Members, (Provo, Utah: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1998), 286.

      Report Post » bifgroovey  
  • Really2012
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:33pm

    Communism isn’t a religion??

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  • katamb55
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:30pm

    Interesting. Utah use to be 76% very religious for polls in years past. Interesting to see how many states are less than average, even those states where people attend church alot (like New Jersey, where I was born).

    Report Post » katamb55  
    • GERATMO
      Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:31am

      There has been a huge population increase in Utah mostly from California in the past 15 years. I myself moved from California in 1989 and have noticed the Hispanic population explode. 20 years ago it was mostly Mormons but now there is much more diversity. Its a great place to live, I just wish the Liberals would stay away.

      Report Post » GERATMO  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:28pm

    Good for the south. They are religious. Always have been.

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    • VanceUppercut
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:08pm

      @thegreatcarnac
      “Good for the south.”

      Yes, good for them. They can truly be proud of their place, first in poverty, and last in education and healthcare. The South will rise again, right after its operation to remove a foot due to the diabeetus.

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    • SREGN
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:16pm

      In truth Vance, you have received your reward.

      Report Post »  
    • drago
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:20pm

      @vancetwogirlsonecup aka encinom.
      You made that statement under a different screen name (lumbar spineless), better watch it, someone might catch on, that its you.And by the way,most of the southern states have a high black population, wonder if there is any correlation between that fact, and the “facts” you are spewing on here? Dummass.

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    • RebelYell1862
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 5:23pm

      @VANCEUPPERCUT You sound just like the typical yankee trash who knows nothing about the SOUTH or our way of life My family has been in the SOUTH since the 1700′s and have done just fine all of these years. Come on down here to MISSISSIPPI and run your dicksucker and the only foot removed will be mine from your yankee ass. P.S. It’s spelled “diabetes”.

      Report Post » RebelYell1862  
    • VanceUppercut
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 7:02pm

      @SREGN
      ???

      @drago
      I am neither encinom or “lumbar spineless” as you say, but if you don’t like them they must be good people. I will refrain from calling you racist for your “black people” comment, since cons seem to think that anyone who calls someone else a racist is inherently racist themselves. (I don’t really follow that logic, but when in Rome, am I right?)

      @RebelYell1862
      “Come on down here to MISSISSIPPI”
      Thanks, but I’ll pass.
      “It’s spelled diabetes”
      I know, I just like spelling it the way that Wilford Brimley pronounces it.

      Report Post »  
  • Aerocog
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:28pm

    So could you make the argument that Democrats are less godly?

    Report Post »  
  • 11:11
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:27pm

    So What have we learned from Gallup?

    “America remains a generally religious nation, with more than two-thirds of the nation’s residents classified as very or moderately religious. These overall national averages, however, conceal dramatic regional differences in religiosity across the 50 states and the District of Columbia,”
    see obama we are still a nation under God and your voodoo no good! ;P

    Report Post » 11:11  
  • Lumbar Spine
    Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:26pm

    Yep…and Mississippi, Alabama and Louisianai are usually at the bottom of the list in the country in education and high in poverty.

    What surprises me is to learn that Sarah Palin lives in one of the most godless state in the Union.

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    • scuba13
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 2:39pm

      What doesn’t suprise me is the sheer stupidity of your post.

      Report Post » scuba13  
    • Megaphin
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:03pm

      The liberals always point out that the super religious Southern states are poor and uneducated but omit the fact that they also have the largest percentages of African Americans.

      1. Mississippi 37% African American
      2. Louisiana 32% African American
      3. Georgia 30% African American

      Report Post »  
    • VanceUppercut
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:13pm

      @Megaphin

      Right, if they just got rid of the blacks they’d shot right to the top of the pack. rofl

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    • Athinkerinaseaoflibs
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:24pm

      The reason those states end up on the bottom is not due to results but expenditures. There is no correlation between education expenditures and education results. They have the same correlation as intelligence and home town–None.

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    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:28pm

      Alaska used to be one of the most religious states before they elected Governor Palin, but many of them have had to forsake God as part of their general movement to present themselves as not like her in any way.

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    • paleoman
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 3:56pm

      I guess the only GOD you answer to is 0bama. Just remember with GODS help & hard work the south will survive what ever the left throws at us. I bet your so smart you couldn’t survive 2 nights in the woods alone. What you going to do when the deli shuts down?

      Report Post »  
    • APPAULED
      Posted on March 29, 2012 at 11:28pm

      The current lot of Republicans are fake christians. They want to take from the poor to give to the rich. If you are a true christian you know this is against the teachings of the bible. Everything they do seems to lean away from christian principals. Now if you go by what they say , that is a different story. They are the ones that want to take away the freedoms of the individual and de-regulate the industries that have already proven themselves untrustworthy. They refuse to take away subsidiez to the oil companies and would rather cut all social programs that affect the individual and at a time in history where there are some 48 million people unemployed to to the greed of large corporations. If you dont believe that large corporations are greedy please read an article from Forbes Magazine, a pro-corporation, pro-business company but they have discovered what really caused the economy to fail. The re-distribution of wealth has been occuring for some 30 yrs. Little by little they have destroyed the middle class. This means you and I most certainly. Google”The Dumbest Idea In The World, Maximizing Shareholder Value”. The title really does not do justice to the article. I first thought. “well that is silly, of coarse they will try to maximize shareholder value”. But itis much more than that. It is an out and out attempt by large corporations to hold our country hostage until we meet their demands. Republicans support this. Mitt applies this. Please read the article. Very Sa

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