Survey Finds God Big In Mississippi, Not So Much In Vermont

January 29, 2009

Author: Adelle M. Banks

Source: Religion News Service

http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnstext/poll_shows_mississippi_is_the_heart_of_the_bible_belt/

Want to be almost certain you’ll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi.

Prefer to be in the least religious state? Venture to Vermont.

A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people—85 percent—say yes when asked “Is religion an important part of your daily life?”

Less than half of Vermonters, meanwhile—42 percent—answered that same question in the affirmative.

Joining Mississippi in the top “most religious” states are other notches in the Bible Belt: Alabama (82 percent), South Carolina (80 percent), Tennessee (79 percent), Louisiana (78 percent), and Arkansas (78 percent).

New England predominates in the top “least religious” states: Following Vermont are New Hampshire (46 percent), Maine (48 percent), Massachusetts (48 percent), Alaska (51 percent) and Washington (52 percent).

“Clearly, states in the South in particular, but also some states in the Southwest and Rocky Mountains ... have very religious residents and New England states in particular, coupled with states like Alaska and others, are irreligious,” said Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of The Gallup Poll.

The reasons why, however, are far less clear, observers said.