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January 24, 2013
Sorry, Colorado Springs: The Top 10 Most 'Bible Minded' Cities in America
New list by Barna and American Bible Society examines regular Bible reading, belief in accuracy.
The American Bible Society has partnered with The Barna Group to identify America’s most “Bible-minded” cities, based on "highest combined levels of regular Bible reading and belief in the Bible’s accuracy."
Their No. 1 pick? Knoxville, Tennessee.
The complete Top 10:
#10. Charleston, W.Va
#9. Huntsville, Ala.
#8. Roanoke/Lynchburg, Va.
#7. Charlotte, N.C.
#6. Springfield, Mo.
#5. Jackson, Miss.
#4. Birmingham, Ala.
#3. Chattanooga, Tenn.
#2. Shreveport, La.
#1. Knoxville, Tenn.
RNS offers a quick photo tour of the top 10 cities.
"While the Bible Belt performed strongly, Colorado Springs, Colo., deemed the No. 1 “holiest city” by Men’s Health just two years ago, has now fallen to the middle of the pack," noted ABS. "And, debunking any sense of a single, monolithic region, other stereotypically known Bible Belt cities fell to the mid-range rankings include Houston, Texas; Tulsa, Okla.; and San Antonio, Texas."
More interestingly: "A closer look at the findings showed a trend related to population density. Of the top 25 Bible-minded markets, only three have a population of greater than 1 million households: Charlotte, N.C., Nashville, Tenn., and Raleigh/Durham, N.C."
By contrast, the least Bible-minded cities (RNS offers a photo tour of these as well):
#10. Buffalo, N.Y.
#9. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#8. Phoenix, Ariz.
#7. San Francisco
#6. Boston, Mass.
#5. Hartford/New Haven, Conn.
#4. Portland, Maine
#3. Burlington, Vt.
#2. Albany, N.Y.
#1. Providence, R.I./ New Bedford, Mass.
View Barna's full ranking of 96 cities here.
Comments
As one who lives in the Springfield, Mo area...
Unfortunately, many have the head knowledge without the heart change. Christianity is more of a "Sunday" thing here, and thrown out the window every other day.
Posted By: Ryan | January 24, 2013 11:00 AM
So Christians need to move out of the south and into the least Christians cities so we can spread the kingdom rather than hold the fort until Jesus comes?
Posted By: Dave | January 24, 2013 11:01 AM
What an odd term to have used. Why would they ask about 'accuracy of the bible'?
That is based on a particular understanding of the way the bible works. I understand that Barna does not want to use theological words like inerrant, but there are so many other terms that Barna could have used, 'meaningful to daily life', 'word of God', etc.
Accurate seems to indicate a scientific view of scripture instead of a theological view of scripture.
Posted By: Adam Shields | January 24, 2013 11:25 AM
Not sure why Colorado Springs is characterized as a Christian hub. Is it because Both Ted Haggard and James Dobson live and have made global impact from here? We certainly host a number of fine Christian organizations, a few of them large, but most of them small. While there are also a number of fine churches (a few that have more than 1000 members) a very small percentage of citizens (
Posted By: Doug | January 24, 2013 12:46 PM
Unfortunately, "Bible Minded" measurements do not include things like anti-racism, care for the poor, or any of the other identifying qualities as stated by Jesus when he was referring to "the least of these." Research like this makes me want to throw up. The most surface reading of the gospel of Luke shows Jesus eating with "tax collectors and sinners." Can we measure Christian behavior emulating our Lord?
Posted By: Preacher Man | January 24, 2013 8:51 PM
LOL. Few surprises.
There's a reason they call it "West By God Virginia" and "Almost Heaven."
Not remotely surprised about the armpit of the northeast (I'm allowed to say that, I live here), and yes, Connecticut has the second largest income gap between rich and poor in the country.
Posted By: enness | January 25, 2013 12:00 AM
So, the nation's most beautiful and world-class cities (San Francisco and Boston) on one side .... and the leaders in obesity, poverty and illiteracy on the other side (Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi).
Why am I not surprised which side the Bible-bangers fall on?
Posted By: Kathleen | January 25, 2013 12:05 AM
Doug, where did Jesus speak about anti-racism?
Posted By: DiverCity Jones | January 25, 2013 2:16 PM
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