Top 10 Most/Least Religious States in the Country

Now someone should compare that data with state literacy rates, education level and teen pregnancy rates.

I thought Colorado would be a lot higher on the list, but sometimes I forget that Colorado Springs (New Life Church, Focus on the Family) is kind of a microcosm in the state.

I just noticed that if we change the word “religious” with “rednecks” in the map, it would still make sense.

Now compare this with red/blue maps from the past few elections. Clearly, religion has a poisoning effect on American politics.

I have never in my life been more profoundly proud to be from New Hampshire… or New England, for that matter.

Utah is a Western state, which probably is what is knocking it out of the top ten. Look at how much more religious it is than its neighbors – Utah/Nevada (except for that that tiny stretch of Oklahoma/Colorado) is the only border between two states that are three shades off from each other.

The Republican party’s strength is in the pious South and the apatheist West. I’m pretty sure that they’re choosing red over blue for totally different reasons.

Now, if the question was a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ answer, can we safely assume that the non-present percentage are agnostic or atheistic? That would mean that even in Mississippi 15% of the population are non-religious.
That makes the oft-claimed “only 14% of Americans are atheists”, seem paltry.

BTW. I like the ‘Redneck’ comment

The Dakotas surprised me. It is because they are rural?

See, here’s my problem with polls like this:

If I were asked this question, my most honest answer would be “Yes.”

Religion is a very important part of my daily life. I write about it almost every day. If I’m not writing about it, I’m often reading about it, or thinking about it.

I’m just not writing/ reading/ thinking very nice things.

How do you answer this question if you’re an atheist writer/ blogger/ activist?

I agree the Dakotas are odd. Why they specifically ranked so high? Allthough they are only 1% higher than Nebraska.

And compare this to a Civil War map. Slave states Dark green. Boarder states light green. Union less green. How long will we have to fight the Civil War?

The odd balls, Utah and the Dakotas are historal locations of conflict with the US government.

And too think about that question. What are other types of things that would be important but not part of your daily life? I guess what I am asking is. Are you really religious if it’s not important to you? for me Baseball and Poker are both part of my daily life. I read about them or play them daily. So what 15% of the people in the most religious state in the union say is that to them, their religion has a lower status than a game has to me.

I think this falls under. Just because you don’t say you don’t believe in god doesn’t mean you do…and I think this is what the Right Wing is ultimatly scared of.

The Republican party’s strength is in the pious South and the apatheist West. I’m pretty sure that they’re choosing red over blue for totally different reasons.

Yes, totally different reasons indeed. The South is your traditional religious zealot conservatives, while the West are the frontier-individualist libertarians. Incidentally, the libertarian vote swung from about 70-30 in favor of Bush in 2000 (I was part of the 30) to something like 70-30 in favor of Obama in 2008 (which was a major factor in swinging the Mountain states blue), so the voting trend for the future is wide open right now: Obama’s bailout scare tactics are going to turn off the Mountain West, but we don’t really have anywhere else to go. So, while I’m not willing to predict the Mountain West becomes a blue stalwart, I wouldn’t say that it’s red territory either.

And apatheist is a great term, but I think I still prefer “leave us alone”-voters.

I’m happy to see that the overly religious city of Colorado Springs (home to that bastion of hate known as Focus on the Family) hasn’t corrupted the rest of us here in Colorado. I honstly expected us to be higher up on the list.

Wow. I knew my state was high, but I hardly suspected it was the second. Guess that explains a lot.

We’re #3! Not that it surprises me in the least that Maine is ranked so high on the list. Also proves that rural does not automatically equal religious since Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont as all very rural states.

RE the Dakotas, I think it’s an urba/rural thing. They’re both in the five least densely populated states in the US. More to the point, they just don’t have much in the way of cities.

When I google “biggest city in North Dakota” wikipedia tells me it’s Fargo will less than 100 thousand. Tennessee has five cities larger, Minnesota two, and Iowa three.

I’m kinda supprised my state of North Carolina was so high. We’re the highest of all the blue states.

In the Dakotas, you have all those steely-eyed missilemen (and all the infrastructure) of the air force working in the missile silos. In general, you’ll find a preponderance of buy-bull belt people in the military. That’s bound to skew the demographics a little. Just sayin’.

As a Californian, I’d really like to see it by county.

Go, Washington! (We’re near the bottom, but it’s only because of a few populous counties around Puget Sound. The whole rest of the state is religious/red.)

Is it at all surprising that New England has the lowest divorce rates, crime rates, teen pregnancy rates, etc? They also enjoy higher overall health, education and quality of living. Now that MA and CT have marriage equality, ME is pushing for it and the other states probably won’t be far behind my wife and I are seriously thinking of braving the cold and snow if Prop 8 doesn’t get overturned.

You can easily compare this data with IQ rates and I guarantee you won’t be surprised.

heh, the Wisconsin result surprises me, I woulda thought we’d be higher to be honest. eh well…hooray for being a midwest anomaly!

I like the third map here (at bottom) better ~

http://www.usatoday.com/graphics/life/gra/religion/frame.htm

Can someone blow that one up into a poster?

“Are there any surprises on here for you?”

Yeah. Texas. It is neither the darkest green nor in the top ten. WTF?

I love how Mississippi is at the top of this list, while being at the bottom in virtually every other national ranking…education, health care, economic development, etc. Why isn’t god doing more for these people?

As a Canadian, I’m left wondering what this would look like for our provinces…

Poverty Distribution in the United States.

Unwed Partners Living Together, including straight and same sex partners

There are some powerful correlations there. What other correlations can we find?

Sad sad. Would only that CT be last on the list.

I actually expected my homestate (Kentucky) to be much higher on the list. I was kind of relieved that it wasn’t, though, at the same time.

It’s pretty much what I expected… Except I thought Alaska and California would be reversed… I’m also surprised Alaska is less religious than Washington!! But the colouring trend doesn’t surprise me at all.

For those interested in a similar map of Canada, check this out:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/religion/faithmap.html

Regarding Alaska and Sarah Palin – it’s not really surprising. Palin’s family is originally from Idaho, I believe, and moved up there just to take advantage of Alaska’s resources or some such (oil pipes and strip malls, baby!), so she’s not representative of the local culture.

Personally, I’m surprised Utah didn’t rank higher.

The Canadian map is awesome! BC surprised me, until I thought about all the Canadians of Asian descent, particularly Chinese and Japanese heritage with no religion. But Alberta was far more non religious than I would have guessed, especially with Stockwell Day, and Stephen Harper coming outta there.

Missouri is 15th in being the most religious? Couldn’t prove it by me! Geeze! These people down here are freakin’ NUTS! I mean they talk about being “immortal” and having a relationship with Jesus, like it were some sexual experience. Gee, puts new meaning to necrophelia.

I would hate to see what Mississippi is like.

Mriana Said,
“Missouri is 15th in being the most religious? Couldn’t prove it by me! Geeze! These people down here are freakin’ NUTS! I mean they talk about being “immortal” and having a relationship with Jesus, like it were some sexual experience. Gee, puts new meaning to necrophelia.”

Take out St. Louis and Kansas City. The the next two cities are Springfield and it’s neighbor Joplin. Springfield is home to Larry Rice Ministries and several evangelical colleges. Joplin has a couple more such colleges, and is home to the state’s prison ministries services and a company that produces multi media presentations for missionaries. The population of these two areas combined is barely 1 million.

I for one think religion is the main cause of so many problems.

The most religious states here are the home to the most brainwashed people in this nation. These dumbasses are getting their wallets sucked thin for a promise of “heaven.” The people who believe needs a splash of cold water to their face. I have told many that they are going to be greatly disappointed when they die, but they’ll never know…such a sad tale of the ignorant blind-they always need someone to tell them what to do, how to vote, who to believe, never in their pathetic lives will they decide anything for themselves. If “god” would only tell them now: when you are suffering, know that I have betrayed you…

religion is the creation and the future of all evil in this country including the future of bipartisan politics from the “educated” fucktards that continuously keep getting elected.

i was extremely pissed to find that catholic priests in sections of Ohio even commented during their preaches that McCain was the choice of “god.” And these sheep buy anything…so us logical and radical people are doomed until our end. Like Ron White says…”you can’t fix stupid.”

I have lived in northeast Mississippi my entire life. This is “home” and can’t help but have a love/hate relationship with it and have always (and still am) considered moving to a more liberal, non-religious state. There are many good, intelligent, non-judgmental people here but unfortunately there seem to be more of those religious extremists. I just turned 30 and I have been gradually coming out of the atheist closet for about the past 8 years. I guess I am completely out now but it still bothers me when friends and acquaintances start ignoring me and disappear all of a sudden once they find out I’m an atheist. Just let me post something denouncing religion (nothing rude mind you) on my Facebook page and watch my friends list dwindle! LOL! It’s just sad how the “loving” Christians become so unloving when you don’t share their same views.

Also, I hate the fact that Mississippi, and the south in general, tends to be the butt of so many jokes referencing that we are all stupid rednecks. However, I’m sure most of you have seen or heard about the studies showing the direct link between lower IQ and strong religious faith. I’m not saying that all devout Christians are stupid mind you but it is interesting and a bit funny how so many of the “less gifted” people are always “luvin’ them some JESUS!!”. LOL!

I think religion is one of the stupidest invention ever to control human kind

i knew there was sumtin wrong with dem yakee’s now let go beat dem up with our double shotguns, jack daniel flask, hanging ropes and thick suthhern draw
(the reason their is so much sarcasm in this comment is because all sterotypes are true)

I know this has been touched on already, but I found the question quite misleading. If you’re in the South and you were brought up in any kind of religious family, you would agree that religion is important. However, I think many of these folks are confusing religion with family. I’m from Ohio and the ranking (in the middle) was very representative. Lots of folks were raised with religion and believe in god, but only about 65% actually practice their religion. I would have preferred a question that related to some sort of frequent practicing of religion. I know Tennessee would still rank high, but it would be more represenative.

The bible is probably the most powerful device ever invented. And like any powerful device you have to see who the person(s) are behind the curtain and their agenda. unfortunately critical thinking is the first casualty of becoming a “true believer”. Since moving to TN 15 yrs ago I’ve come to realise that most southerners are not stupid rather they choose to not only ignore any attempt to inject anything scientific into their thought that conflicts w/their beliefs,they take all their political direction from their church or any conservative politician that claim “God” guides their every decision. The base motivator is fear. Fear trumps intellect and all other emotions and it comes wrapped as Love. Sugar coating on a poison pill.

Oh how I hate living in Georgia. Washington sounds nice. Maybe I’ll move there.
Anyone notice what I did there? Atheist and patriotic. Take that, Bush 1.

I wish they had a map by county. Does anyone know of one? Someone had a comment about Missippi being the poorest and the most religious. Data also shows them as giving the largest percentage of their income to charities( not just churches either). The poor helping the poor. If only the richer states would learn from their lesson.

I live in the 2nd least religious state (New Hampshire) and the other 3 are all surrounding my state. In other words, i live in the least religious geographic area in the country. Yet, my family is very religious. Location has not made a difference though.

California’s at 57 percent, which sounds about right to me. I, too, wish we could see a breakdown by county. My guess is that the San Francisco Bay Area would rank somewhat lower. There really doesn’t seem to be a lot of overt religiosity here.

Yep, county breakdown would be good. For example north Florida is closer to south Georgia. And one would see the almost universal urban vs rural divide.

Great post, just not the full story. From reading the comments here, it seems that no one has put one and one together. All the stats that claim religious people are dumber and more violent are based off of racism. Compare these states to the U.S. Census. Look at the unemployment, population, poverty, race, education system and so on. Great job on using racism and calling it religion. Also, look at the total number of hate crime incidents for each state. It seems that the least religious states dominate in hate, by a large number. Try looking at the whole picture. Mao, Stalin, Kim, Lenin and all the other atheist icons would be so proud of you. Let me guest, you’re going to bring up the crusades which happened how long ago, or the abortion doctor killings (all 8 of them in a 33 year period), or how the bible talks about stoning people but you can’t name any incidents in America within the last 500 years, or how the Old Testament is so violent when Christians (notice the word Christ in that word) go by the New Testament no matter what you say. Go for it, the fact is that there’s no difference in the new atheist movement and how Hitler did the Jews or how Mao and Stalin did Christianity. It’s the same propaganda, just more modern. So when you reply, try something new and use a source that’s not bias. Look at all the atheist lead governments in history, do you really want to get rid of Christianity? Try to stick with Christianity and not other religions, I don’t speak for them unlike the many atheist who believe that they do. Try to use the “Christ” definition of Christianity, not yours. I have a question. Why are atheist freethinkers and anyone who thinks otherwise ignorant? Is that free thinking? You can only think one way to be a freethinker. How much does science really know about life and the universe? Why does science disprove God because an atheist says so when God is the one that put science here in the first place? When did atheism become hate, you should call yourself irreligious instead of giving the good people of atheism a bad name. Just a thought. Now, how many of you will reply with name calling or insults? How many of you will quote other atheist? How many of you will make statements with no source or just pick and choose your data? Here’s a good question. How many of you actually belief that the internet, the news, TV shows and Hollywood all have a Christian bias? How many of you are pissed off at this comment? Ask yourself “why”? Why are you an atheist? Science can’t explain 95% of the Universe, so how does science disprove God? A single strain of DNA contains information that would fill 50 Encyclopedia Britannica. Look at your facts, compared to all the truths that we don’t know about yet, how can they be facts? The only real fact, is that we don’t know nothing and that this world, use, animals and the universe is to detailed and perfect to call it an accident.

JJ, Hanging replaced stoning. Now go back and look at the last 500 years. And I’m not just talking about slavery which by the way used the bible as justification.

Colossians 3:2 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth

Now go back to Boston in 1658, Plymouth Court ordered that any boat carrying Quakers to Sandwich be seized to prevent the religious heretics from landing. A year earlier, Quakers in Sandwich had established the first Friends’ Meeting in the New World. Magistrates in both Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies were alarmed by Quaker teachings that individuals could receive direct personal revelations from God. To protect orthodox Puritanism, the courts passed a series of laws forbidding residents from housing Quakers. Quakers themselves were threatened with whipping, arrest, imprisonment, banishment, or death. But driven by conscience, some Quakers repeatedly returned to Massachusetts to preach; four of them, including Mary Dyer, went to the gallows before a shocked King Charles ordered an end to the hanging of Quakers in 1661.

DN,

Good job on telling other people want they believe, seems to be a popular trend among atheist.

Here’s a thought, deal with the facts I made instead of creating new propaganda that has nothing to do with any of it.

I’m not going to research your claim. I already know it’s one sided and half true.

Slaves in the bible, are you talking about the slaves that are working off their debt? We call that work today. Do you not obey your boss at work? It’s called good work ethics.

Stop with your elementary understanding of the bible.

Just because you say it’s so, doesn’t make it so.

I do have a question. If atheist are the first to admit that they don’t know it all, then why do they have all the answers?

JJ, Of coarse your not going to research my “claim.” I’ll make it easy on you. I cut and pasted it from The Plain Truth magazine. A christian magazine. New propaganda indeed. You said, “but you can’t name any incidents in America within the last 500 years.” I was talking about slavery in the south not 2000 years ago. Funny how things like that slip your mind, eh? Slavery = good work ethic, nice one JJ. (Psssst.. your I.Q. is showing.)

Feel free to fling some more poo, it’s only human.

Amanda Says:
August 20th, 2009 at 2:22 am

I have lived in northeast Mississippi my entire life. This is “home” and can’t help but have a love/hate relationship with it and have always (and still am) considered moving to a more liberal, non-religious state. There are many good, intelligent, non-judgmental people here but unfortunately there seem to be more of those religious extremists. I just turned 30 and I have been gradually coming out of the atheist closet for about the past 8 years. I guess I am completely out now but it still bothers me when friends and acquaintances start ignoring me and disappear all of a sudden once they find out I’m an atheist. Just let me post something denouncing religion (nothing rude mind you) on my Facebook page and watch my friends list dwindle! LOL! It’s just sad how the “loving” Christians become so unloving when you don’t share their same views.

Also, I hate the fact that Mississippi, and the south in general, tends to be the butt of so many jokes referencing that we are all stupid rednecks. However, I’m sure most of you have seen or heard about the studies showing the direct link between lower IQ and strong religious faith. I’m not saying that all devout Christians are stupid mind you but it is interesting and a bit funny how so many of the “less gifted” people are always “luvin’ them some JESUS!!”. LOL!

—-
I was going to post something very similar, but Amanda seems to have almost exactly said what I was about to say. The only difference is that I am from southeast Louisiana.

I don’t think IQ correlates as well as salsa. I.m.h.o. it’s all about “Salsa deficiency”

[google: "salsa consumption map"]

If we overlay the “map of salsa consumption in 1997″ with the map of religiosity above, we will see that there is a near perfect inverse relationship between the two. Less salsa is consumed in the Bible-belt, while the states with less religion have higher than average salsa consumption rates.
Not eating enough salsa makes one more likely to believe in God…or possibly faith causes an intolerance for salsa. (we all know faith causes intolerance).

If you are worried about becoming religious I suggest you try “salsa therapy”. You should start salsa injections now because it will take about 13 years to build up your immunity (according to the maps)…

I think “JJ” believes he’s one of the more intellectual and informed citizens, clearly from Mississippi.

ROFLMFAO…

Perfect example of the majority of the dark-green people.

Brainwashed. Uneducated. Foolish, and most certainly…. full of “poo”.

I’m from Vermont and an atheist. Vermont is very rural it is the second least populated state, and trust me there are a lot of rednecks. Vermont is also a pretty poor state so poverty may not effect religious beliefs as much one might think. And I don’t know why that person would say that the least religious states are more violent… Vermont is the second safest state! Also you don’t have to be religious to own a gun!!! Vermont and Alaska have the loosest gun laws in the country (you can carry a concealed weapon without a permit, you don’t need to register the gun, or have a permit to own a gun you just need to be 18)! So maybe everyone needs to stop stereotyping nonbelievers, I love Vermont for all the reasons that makes it the most unique state in the country! (By the way ma and ct aren’t the only NE states with gay marriage! Don’t forget the 802!! we have medical marijuana and no death penalty too! Oh and about not stereotyping currently we have a republican governor… whatcha think about that???

Interesting side-note here; browse the cdc’s std monitoring reports. There is no way to know that the stats have anything to do with religion, but it does pose some interesting questions.

@ Harknights: The Dakotas are that high because they’re crawling with hillbilly redneck religious fanatics. It’s like stepping into the dark ages as soon as you cross the border.

@Miko
Obamas bailouts?
http://www.propublica.org/special/government-bailouts

wEll I took a look at teen pregnancy and while there appears to be a higher incidence in “religios” states OK,TX,LA,MS,TN, there also exist anomalies such as Nevada very high teen pregnancies and very low score religiously.
Wonder how “hard drug” use compares?
Or how income might factor into the equation, and then there are other factors to consider, single parent upbringing, divorce rates, evangelical vs. liberal religions, climate?

I’m not surprised that the New England region rank low on the list. I just hope that, this stat will change in the future. It all starts with people like me who needs to stop playing games with God, and start getting serious and walk in my true divine calling. And that calling is to preach the ever lasting Gospel of Jesus Christ to the New England states!

I cant say im suprised. Unfortunately I live in Tennessee, and I can tell you its FULL of bible thumpin rednecks. The literacy rate is probaly extremly low and I can tell you the teen pregnancy rate is high. I cant wait to get out of school and get out of this place!

Most people can’t bear to sit in church for an hour on Sundays. How are they supposed to live somewhere very similar to it for eternity?

Mark Twain

Assuming your map is accurate, I’d like to compare it side by side with a map ranking poorest/wealthiest states. In my experience people with little money are the ones who are more religous than weathier individuals. Religion appeals to the poor because it is the one thing that gives them some kind of hope in their lives. I’m not an athiest nor am I religious, I don’t claim to know one way or the other, but what I do know is that too many people/organizations manipulate weak minded people through religion for personal gain.

Mississippi is the most religious, poorest and also has the highest number of lynchings in U.S. history. Kind of tells it’s own story, doesn’t it??

The top of this list basically reads as the states that make me embarrassed to be a citizen of this country in oh so many ways. The U.S. should seriously just split into two countries; trust me, the “great” state of Alabama won’t be missed.

As an Englishman who has see his country go from Christian, to Cultural Christian to Secular & being pleased about it,I was suprised by some of the results here.I lived in California for 6 years & dare you say you are Humanist & they are ready to burn you,but now, when I eventually move back to the US,I am heading to a state where Religion is not obsessively part of their lives!
By the way,I was a Clergyman!

First points first, religion is highly overrated and if you want to be religious no one on earth cares or has a problem with that.

The only atheists or anti theists that give religious people a hard time are those that are sick of seeing government supported religious policies everywhere. Why is stem cell research an issue? Abortion? Gay marriage? The average person does not care about these issues enough to write letters to their congressman or tv stations. They are normally waiting for some kind of influence to sway their opinion, “is this good? Bad? Not a big deal?” The irrational morons who make a big deal about these things are the ones who sway the average person-regardless of religion, creed, political views-into supporting this unconstitutional nonsense. No one has any right to tell scientists they are not allowed to experiment with stem cells. They can experiment with live mice just so you can wear cosmetics-not an animal activist to be honest, but I find this fascinating-but they are not allowed to experiment with something that is able to become fully frozen. You can’t freeze living beings people.

Sorry to say it, but it’s obvious that weak minded people are religious. Now I’m not talking about theologians, or theists, I’m simply talking about “religious” people. People who think superstitious nonsense actually makes your day better or makes something turn out ok. Putting holy water on your child’s burning, feverish head, does not “cure them.” If they get better, it will most likely be due to the medication they took right before you put water on your kids head. If you honestly believe in these things..you’re an idiot. Plain and simple, you are a complete and utter moron who deserves to be laughed at. Do you cross your fingers and hope something doesn’t come true? Do you say jinx? Do you freak out when you break a mirror or come across a black cat? So why do you think that prayer makes the outcome of a situation better? -God has a plan and asking him to change that is anti Christian and not even plausible. God does whatever he wants and doesn’t care about your silly prayer.

The real problem here is poverty. Stupid people are poor and uneducated and are more religious because of that. Some poor people may not be religious and may act out in other ways. Religion is like drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, raging, etc…Any type of thing you use to deal with your issues in life. Even music or art can be included in this because these are strong coping mechanisms for troubled people. The South is poorer, Nevada is a poor state, but they are also the gambling capital of the world. What do you think most people do there to cope with life?

I also fail to see how religion is a GOOD way to deal with your problems…I mean you allow yourself to pretend that superstitions make your life better. That is not a positive thing and why don’t theists find this more insulting? Is it just about the followers and club members for you guys? That’s so absurd. You should be angry that weak minded people are being brainwashed to believe your most important thoughts!

I understand why theists exist, there is something intellectual about those who ponder that which we do not know. One can look at science and be imaginative about it and wonder the possibilities (as long as they don’t call it fact), but religion makes no sense to me. It stopped serving its purpose during the middle of the 20th century. We have enough science and ideas to eradicate poverty around the world now. We don’t need to “have hope” aka dream that this will all come out ok at the end of our lives.

Because that’s all hope is at the end of the day! It’s just a fantasy and dream and if there is no basis to this fantasy, then your life is a waste. People cannot eat hope, they can’t pay the mortgage, bills, gas with hope. They can only do this by getting themselves out of poverty, which means getting a job. Which in turn means education, skills, training, and of course the most important, freedom. Until then your “religion” is like a stupid hobby that annoys the hell out of everyone else. The neighbors, your friends, family members, don’t want to hear you ramble on about what stupid superstitious things you do in your free time. They secretly think you’re irrational by doing this, but they’ve been brainwashed in general to think that being “very religious”=moral. It does not make you more moral or important than anyone else on the planet, what an ego trip.

Pretty much everyone on planet earth has a problem with those annoying religious dolts that “shout it from the hilltops!” Atheists and Christians are included here. I can bet that there are probably some people in the South now that are absolutely sick of hearing that crap. No one wants to here you brag about yourself or talk incessantly about the same stupid thing. Most people also don’t like being told that they need to believe and, in fact, participate in your stupid superstitious activities. Most people don’t like to be told that they better become religious-specifically your denomination which requires you to do something-or they’re going to be sorry or tortured in a fiery furnace. And so I think I speak for everyone when I say shut the hell up.

Go be religious on your own time, go pray on your own time. Don’t make me do it too, or be forced to participate in the retardation of humanity and progress.

I’m skeptic of the true representation of this list. Most people think religious in America as Christian. But after being in New York for several years I feel New York is a very religious place. While yes there are all types of religions in New York it is very separatist here with regard to what religion you are. I was never aware of my own religious upbringing until moving here. There are religious companies here as well as neighborhoods that are strictly one religion or another. Some religions dominate certain areas, some have more influence than others. But people look at me and assume I’m part if one group or the other and it’s alienating. I haven’t met very many atheists here. And it’s probably not a daily part of peoples lives because it’s a given, and undercurrent that defines who you are in New York.

It’s depressing how similar this is to the diabetes map recently out. But not surprising. But gosh, it’s great to be in Vermont!

The most religious states are typically the least tolerant….religiously and racially.
I live in Texas and HOLY CRAP the people are passionate! Half the time I’m totally isolated because I don’t go to church.

[...] original Friendly Athiest (the one that’s not Matt Caspar) breaks out the list of the Ten Most Religious and Ten Least Religious U.S. States.  By the way, is it just me or is “Utah Jazz” a rather conflicted name for a sports [...]

Doesn’t surprise me about the bible belt states, but Florida surprises me that it isn’t rated as most religious. I live in the panhandle and everyone is so “in your face” about religion and being a christian. Guess it’s time to move to Vermont.

i live in south dakota. i actually know quite a few people that are atheists.. but, from my experience, most people here are pretty religious. some to the point where it gives me a headache listening to them talk.

I believe in God, live in California, and was never asked. I don’t trust polls. Who were they talking to. For example, if Gallop took most of their answers from San Francisco, as compared to San Diego, we would have a completely different listing (and shade of green.) Also, larger cities tend to be more secular than smaller ones.

I also think it is totally ignorant to call anybody religious, “stupid.” In return, it exposes you for the very insult you expound on those you feel”superior” to.

-Ryan

Knowing God HAS improved my life. I think I would either be divorced or dead if it weren’t for Him. He is real, and He is faithful, and He is worthy of our respect and love. I come from a divorced family, and it’s been hell living with parents who still do not get along (I am almost 50). Only knowing God and His comfort has helped me through a lifetime of the pain of the strife and contention between my mother and father, and of feeling abandoned by my father at fifteen for another woman and her two teenage girls. It’s been a struggle forgiving him and my step-mother, and a struggle to walk in love and not pass the anger and grief and sadness of it all down to my children, and they are thriving (A students; gifted and talented and smart; musical). Not overweight or with diabetes. They aren’t perfect, and neither am I, and we still have some things we are struggling with, but knowing God has helped me to overcome a lot of pain and struggles in life. I am glad I found this site. I am shocked at the level of anger that many of you seem to have. God can take that away and heal the root cause if you allow him access to your heart. Life is short; too short to be bitter.

Guess what Gloria, we all have bad things happen to us. It’s called life, get used to it. I have not ever felt the need to call on zeus,god,allah,thor or any other mythological fabrication to make it all bearable. You face it like an adult with help from friends and family or maybe even a rational therapist if necessary. Emphasis on rational. As for being angry here’s why. We can’t have a intelligent conversation with most people without some inane comment about what their imaginary friend did for them or hopes he will do for them. Or watch the news and hear someone tell how the lord saved a little baby from a tornado. And religious people all nod their head and praise the miracle. You know that very same blessing ripped a mother from her baby’s arms and shredded her right in front of her child, right?!! I like my anger right where it is, thank you. It keeps me vigilant in the fight against the tower of woo. You need to google the Skeptics Dictionary. Maybe we can get you to give up your snuggy blanket and enter adulthood like you should have.

Sadly, tact is a dying art.

Well Dick, tact doesn’t work with these people. She’s a troll sent here by her christian mullahs to spread the blood/death cult virus. I’m not making this up! There are instructional videos on youtube by christian organizations telling their followers to disrupt and annoy any group on the internet that conflicts with theirs. This thread is about the least religious states. To them it’s a target. Pardon me if I get irritated when they send their sheep out to dump on it.

What a lot of you are forgetting with the “redneck” comments, is that most of the religious states also have the highest percentage of blacks (Mississippi 40%). Also the most religious countries in the world are in Africa.

There are very few black atheists. Funny considering they are worshiping their slaveowners and colonizers god.

Also explains the teen pregnancy, illiteracy, and poverty too.

I hail from the fourth most religious state but am going to grad school in the fourth LEAST religious state. And yes, they do feel a bit like different planets.

Dan…the top 6 are regularly on the lower end of literacy and near the top of teen pregnancies.

Darn! I just graduated college and am looking to move, so I googled “Least Religious States” in hope of finding a more harmonious match. No such luck, I live in Boston!

I wonder which countries are the least religious…

Good to know there are like minded people out there.

The hatred that many atheists feels towards religious dogma stems from the fact that it affects the future of our lives and our planet… not just theirs. Religion often (not always) downplays the importance of sustainability (the basic need to intellectually preserve our planet for future generations). This is why “progressive” politics, often associated with the less religious, left leaning population are frowned upon by the religious right who tend to think that it is all in gods hands.

We feel like we are being road blocked by a stampede of clueless morons (excuse the lost art of tact).

It is not a simple as. “you can be religious, ignorant and live in fantasy land because it does not affect me”, because it does… in a BIG way.

The religious right has always been a road block to progress, including woman’s rights, banishing slavery, sexual expression etc.

We do not cherish the fact that the future of our lives and our planet is for the most part doomed due to uneducated, faith-based rather than scientifically rational based thinking people.

If we atheists, non-theists, spiritual and the mildly religious logical thinking people could live on our own planet while the far-right religious folks destroyed there own, we would have no problem with you eliminating yourselves. As long as you did not pollute our planet in the process

So YES… we do take it personally as it affects our very lives and futures.

Personally, I sometimes feel like I’m being illogically forced to interact with folks that would be better off residing in a zoo. The main difference being that I actually like zoo animals.

Again, sorry for the lack of tact, but this is serious business that affects our lives.

As a side note, never try to change a brain-washed religious person. It all starts with education from early on. Leave religion out of schools, let children decide for themselves if they want to believe in Santa Clause once they are old enough to know better. The current generation needs to die off of natural causes making way for a new generation of educated (progressive) thinkers.

Every wonder why certain politicians actually think it’s O.K. or even GOOD to cut school funding while at the same time giving the rich tax breaks?? Yup… Less competition from “enlightened” folks in the future.

NEVER EVER cut school funding unless it means that there will be no food on the table for anyone. A solid education system is the foundation of a sustainable and logical future.

Good Day!

Choosing a religion is an emotional decision, choosing athiesm is an intellectual decision.

Scandanavia

In this poll Mississippi’s white population alone would have still been the most religious in the nation.

How can you assert that God is “real” with such confidence when your only backing for him is faith–”being sure of what [one hopes] for and certain of what [one does] not see.”? You can see how others might have plenty of doubts and see God as one who man has created in his image to be an emotional and societal cruch?

I was particularly interested by your phrase “retardation of humanity”, which I found ironic only because many have theorized that religion evolved into the mind of man via natural selection for the purpose of advancing mankind into social harmony. Today it seems to be an out-dated relic of our ancient development.

What makes you so certain that your “calling” is not of your own inspiration? Atheists and agnostics feel idetically led in certain directions over others but they don’t think it’s God. What makes Christianity different from anything else in the human psychy?

You certainly sound like a true Vermonter. We love to make fun of you guys in my state but it’s fun to see the common ground too.

Complete empathy (though I attend a religious university in New England [not so bad]).

Just like most other people, I don’t want my life to end. I just didn’t come up with a good enough reason to make believe that I get to somewhere after death than the ground.

I’m sorry to burst your bubble…  I’m sure you spent a lot of time trying to come up with your quote, but for the record I actually DID make the intellectual decision to follow Christ…  While the vast majority of my Atheistic friends only based their decisions on an ‘emotional’ desire to rebel against their families wishes for them.

If you need help revising your quote, just let me know though!  I’d love to help!

Can I ask how you made that an intellectual decision? 

I’m sorry but do you feel the Jews rebelled “emotionally” from the Nazi Party? The reality is that there are both intellectual and emotional reasons for making a decision. For those of us who are both honest, wise and trusting enough in ourselves to think beyond what we are told, there is rational proof but there is also an emotional rebellion. Religion has caused an immense suffering on this planet, at least by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam…which are identical…and so there is also an emotional reaction. We don’t say you made the decision based on emotion because you are emotional, but because you lack intellect. In fact, assuming you worship the Bible, which Jesus commands you not to, you are instructed to suspend intellect in favor of faith. 

God is the created of all things. In the beginning there was “the word”. There is nothing outside of god and nothing beyond His reach. It was from God and by God that all things were made. God made you. God made your parents. God made them get divorced. God made your suffering. –  One can not create a rock, a mountain, and gravity and then blame the rock for rolling downhill. –  God improved your life because you needed help, not because God is the way. I am glad for you that you found a way past your suffering. But you have found it in a system that brought us The Dark Ages, The Spanish Inquisition, The Thirty Year War, The War on Terrorism, and the like. Minus the flood, Sodam and Gamora, and The Plagues, which have no death tally, close to 3 million deaths are attributed to God in The Bible. Satan? 10.

Like it or not, bureaucratic societies are the most successful, and by successful I mean the best at securing resources. Seeing as I don’t farm my own food, I can see the benefit in cooperating with society in order to maintain my connection with that which sustains my life. Going from Nomad to Agrarian 6000 years ago however, it is much harder to see the argument. Those that are more susceptible to societal influence, and who are fearful of themselves and the world, would more likely congeal into a single functioning unit, both for safety and for guidance. Unfortunately, because of those fearful beings willfulness to suspend the belief of their personal value, those groups were much better at killing. To be perfectly honest, we have only evolution to blame for religion. Let us hope that Creationism turns out to be dramatic irony and not simply indefinitely sustained stupidity. 

I think for most, religion was not a decision at all.  Children were indoctrinated into it by their parents and it was cemented in place through fear.  Emotional yes.  A decision, no.

Great work!!

I’m from Alabama as well, Enterprise that is!

I agree.  To be a Christian is a personal decision.  You can be born a Catholic or Baptist but you have to consciously follow Christ or you’re not a Christian. Good point.

atheism is not about rebellion at all. It is about being logical.

atheism is not about rebellion at all. It is about being logical.

Each religion believes in their own version of god.  Do you not see that the possibility of your god existing is just as implausible as the possibility of any other god existing?  Of course you don’t because being a bigot and self righteous is what allows you to be the good christian that you are today.  Open your mind and try thinking outside the box for once in your life, even if your brain is not capable, just try.  Your religion entirely depends on your location and therfore is completely arbitrary.  There is no credibility with any religion, it is all based on presumption and speculation in ancient literature.   If you don’t think science is credible then throw away your computer.  The funny thing about religious people is that they confuse faith for fact.  Just because you believe in something on account of your parents teaching you that was the right thing to believe does not make it true.   You cannot intelligently make any argument against science and if you try then you don’t realize that you are willfully ignorant because science is based on fact.   Your entire system of beliefs is built upon fear and guilt.   Your delusional point of view suits you well but  try reality and you might like it.   It is not always as happy as your fantasy world but at least it is real.

I haven’t read all the posts here but I can tell you some correlations from first hand experience.  I have lived in the south, the midwest, the west coast and the new england area.   The south is obviously full of dumb people.  There are a lot of good people in the south but lets face it there are a lot of just plain uneducated people there.   It is the most religious place I have ever lived and I wasn’t even in the heart of it.   The teen pregnancy rate was sky high and the crime rate as well.  So you would have to be totally ignorant to not see that being religious doesnt make you any any better morally, despite the false claims that christians make and want to believe. The main lesson here is that most christians do not practice what they preach.   The south was also the poorest and most miserable people.  Was it because they were made to feel guilty of everything they do and fear an imaginary god?  probably but who knows.  In the northeast I rarely saw a church and there was very low crime rate and people there were extremely happy and extremely intelligent.  What have we learned here?  Desperation, despair, lack of education, lack of intelligence, all lead to religion.  Unhappy people tend to be more religious because it provides a sense of hope and security.  There is no logic in it.

You are not to worship the bible but follow the words of the bible.  Have you ever read the bible and saw how many of the intellectually moral decisions one should make to live their life are indisputable.  There is not one thing that Jesus preached that an atheist could possibly say you should do the opposite.  As far as thinking for yourself, you must not know very many Christians because many of us are very thought provoking and intellectual.  Our lives have led us to Jesus and I am free to live in a life that follows him and live like he would want us to.  I challenge you, not to become Christian, but at least try to act like one.  It would do the world some good if everyone just tried to be nice and understanding of your neighbor.  Imagine if we all just got along and didn’t pass judgement based on what we ourselves think.  You are just one person amongst millions.  Wouldn’t it just be better to spread goodness rather than judgement and condensation.

The nazi party certainly wasn’t Christian, that was a cover to keep the people’s trust, the Catholic Church was one of the only institutions to oppose them (Hitler and his high command were planning on going after Christians after the war). Hitler actually preferred islam to Christianity because it was more militant. The Jews on the other hand were good religious people. Atheism is complete denial of god which is not intellectual because you can never disprove His existence. Agnostic would be more intellectual if you don’t believe, since it actually recognizes this.

Also Kim Jong Il, Joseph Stalin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Jeffrey Dahmer, Mussolini, Mao Zedong, Alfred Kinsey and the Columbine shooters were all atheists and among the most sadistic people in history (And atheism has always been a miniscule minority)

Your side note makes no sense, it works in reverse to. Leave anti religous teaching out of schools; i.e evolution etc and let chidren decide what they believe in. If you want to see children making decisions themselves, they would need an equal teaching of both religous and non religous views.

“Atheism is complete denial of god which is not intellectual because you can never disprove His existence.”

So what stops you from believing in the other countless gods man has dreamed up? Can you disprove their existence? Do you really not see how illogical that kind of thinking is?

Also just take the double negative out of your statement…

“because you can’t prove His existence.”

Yes skeptics require proof, therefore they do not believe in god.

I think I am moving to Vermont…

I would love replies about more non-religious, or non-god-fearing communities.  Especially in terms of feminist rights.  I don’t believe in organizing women like farm animals and have to say that San Francisco is probably one of the most religious experiences that I’ve ever had in my life.  Please let me know if you know of anti-god, more feminist, more woman power, more socialist type communities.  Some combo of several of those in a higher quantity where women are just basically able to afford lives free of these oppressing things (cheaper, nicer, more space is fine), please email.  I do not like it here and am not into the thriving alter-life communities, either.  Searching for more information. Moving up here was in error.  These men are fundamental.  These women defend the men.  This place is dangerous and I hate it.  

Thx
rf  (email: rmfasks@yahoo.com)

http://www.top50states.com/average-iq-score.html

Judo-Christianity has historicity and sound doctrines. Even Jewish historians of the time record Jesus as  a real person. His followers were tortured and killed before denouncing the resurrection which they witnessed. All of this is recorded by Greek and Jewish historians and obviously the Christian NT, so all sides agree. There were also prophesies of Him in the OT.

Buddhism really shouldn’t be a religion as it’s debated whether Buddha was even religious himself but rather agnostic. Islam was a military dominated religion whose prophet was a child molesting rapist and murderer (as recorded by their own scripture). And every other religion is in one way or another mainly a worship of elements of the Earth with many gods for each one.

Science in no way disproves God; however by definition atheists will utterly deny Him, therefore it is illogical. An agnostic is skeptical of God and thinks there is no way of proving His existence.

God, by definition, cannot be disproved.  Besides, the burden of proof lies on those who make the claim (that God exists), not those who refute it.

You also clearly do not understand what the majority of atheists believe.  Atheism is a lack of belief in a deity, not an assertion of an absence of one.  Many will however argue that there is no evidence that there is one, which is not the same as arguing that there is evidence that there is not one…

Nice one. If it was all about rebellion you’d get hundreds of thousands of kids from athiest/agnostic families converting to Christianity. It just doesn’t happen I’m afraid. Atheism is based on hard scientific fact from many of the greatest minds on earth.

That certainly isn’t the case in the UK. The Church of England (Episcopal) wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for old upper middle class white ladies.

Some people here are so stupid, it’s actually funny. First of all, a young child who has not hit the age of reasoning cannot decipher between right from wrong, simply because they do not understand, i.e., because they are so young and are still mentally developing. Giving a child that “choice” will obviously make them “choose” to live the easiest and most “fun” lifestyle. Doing a lot of statistical and analytical research, it is very evident that (to quote) “A family that prays together, stays together.” The happiest cultures with the most tight-knit family bonds are actually societies that base their life and everyday decisions around religion. So yes, religion is evidently very important. It’s so sad to see that today, societies think, act and live in such a primitive and barbaric way. God bless all you non-believers because I don’t know where you think you are going to end up when your time here on earth is up.

I also made that decision myself:))) I don’t like religion but I love God and see him move in my life everyday!!!

 please there has been plenty of sadistic religious people who where very religious. Like Ivan the terrible, tsar of russia was perhaps one of the most religious people in history even for that time. That norwegian guy who shoot a 100 people was very relgiious.
Even Hitler said many times that he was a chrisitan.

Also you do know that the catholic church made a pact with Hitler and didnt oppose him until that pope died and a new pope came to power.
Also the current pope was a member of hitlerjugend.

Since you are a Libertarian perhaps it would intrest you that Milton Friedman was an agnostic atheist, did not believe in god.
Ayn Rand was a hardcore atheist.
And many more famous libertarians were non-believers.

So there are good and bad people on both sides.

First, the charge against the Catholic Church is unwarranted as they did plenty to save Jews, more so than every government of the time combined. Their efforts changed Einstein’s opinion of the Church. Most of these efforts weren’t public as that would have created new problems, even the Jews didn’t want them doing this as they knew more of them would be killed. They did create a deal with the Nazis to try and protect their members from persecution, but it was violated promptly.
http://users.binary.net/polycarp/piusxii.html
http://bfhu.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/american-jews-defend-pope-pius-xii/
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/researcher-finds-proof-of-widespread-jewish-support-for-pope-pius-xii/
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0033.html

‘The Israeli consul, Pinchas E. Lapide, in his book, Three Popes and the Jews (New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1967) critically examines Pope Pius XII. According to his research, the Catholic Church under Pius XII was instrumental in saving 860,000 Jews from Nazi death camps (p. 214). Could Pius have saved more lives by speaking out more forcefully? According to Lapide, the concentration camp prisoners did not want Pius to speak out openly (p. 247). As one jurist from the Nuremberg Trials said on WNBC in New York (Feb. 28, 1964), “Any words of Pius XII, directed against a madman like Hitler, would have brought on an even worse catastrophe… [and] accelerated the massacre of Jews and priests.” ‘

“According to the December 23, 1940 issue of Time magazine on page 38, Einstein said:

Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but, no, the universities immediately were silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks…

Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.”

Reports from high officials in the Nazi party say that the Christian thing was basically an act, because most Germans of the time were still Christian. At best if you read his speeches and believe it, he still wouldn’t be much of a Christian as he said the scriptures were wrong, and that Christ was Arian. Even the muslims believe Christ to be one of their prophets and no one would call them Christian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler%27s_religious_views

And I’m not saying there aren’t any bad Christians, that would be silly. However these people are not this way because of Christianity, as it teaches good morals.

Next, even the Anti-defamation league (Again Jewish) applauded the appointment of the current pope, he was forced into the Hitler Youth at a young age.
http://www.adl.org/media_watch/newspapers/20050425-PhilaDailyNews.htm

Lastly, I’m a Ron Paul libertarian.

Omg, I know texass is fulla redneck inbred fuckwits(I live here unfortunately ) but that shit. Is scarey.

Typical arrogant response.  I know better than everyone else because I read some bias information in an article written by someone with no credentials.  Also if you look at the people acting “primitive and barbaric” they are the religious ones beating their kids almost to death because of what they have read in the bible or blowing up buildings.

Gloria, I appreciate what you have to say although I find it logically ridiculous. The fact that you use religion in a peaceful way is a great thing, but you have to understand that one can live the same life and get over issues without the use of something that doesn’t really make any sense. Religion is to say the least, the most insanely corrupt form of control over people and is responsible for more death then anything else in history. If you use it as a personal coping mechanism, it’s basically just a psychological method of self comfort. It doesn’t make it true. To be blunt, your kind of creating an imaginary friend to speak to that helps get you by. Otherwise, you can’t credit god with actually ever having done anything.

Only people who choose religion out of emotional needs attempt to “prove” that atheists do the same.  Like the “disbelief is an act of faith” nonsense…

Most atheists have no problem with the bible or the doctrines of Christianity, we have a problem with the idiots who claim to be following it and the horrible things they do because of their religion.

Oh my God, forgive the saying it’s habit, Adolf Hitler was a “devout” Catholic, and every person you listed had their own religion. Jeffrey Dahmer did what he did because his mother locked him in a closet as a child.  And atheism is a miniscule minority because most of us don’t go around saying it because we don’t want to get shot or hung or burned or have our homes burned down or any of the other stupid shit that religious small-minded nut-jobs do to get rid of things they don’t understand.

You cannot prove or disprove God. PERIOD. So, this will be an eternal debate. No one really gives a damn what anyone else thinks, we just don’t want what YOU believe effecting US. And we get tired of Christians constantly saying “I know” because you don’t “know” you “believe” which is fine. 

Buddhism isn’t a religion you dumb ass it is a philosophy.  But like most religious people YOU ARE RIGHT and EVERYONE ELSE ON EARTH IS WRONG.

ANY “RELIGION”, FAITH OR ATHEISM IS  SUCH A DEEPLY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE…I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY WE ALL JUST CANT SEEM TO KEEP OUR OPINIONS AND BELIEFS TO OURSELVES, AND LIVE BY THE ONE UNIVERSAL GOLDEN RULE AND JUST “TREAT OTHER KIND”.  OUR BELIEFS SHOULD NOT BE SUCH A GROUND OF DUALITY…REALLY THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG…BUT WE ALL HAVE EACH OTHER REGARDLESS.
I AM A CLOSEST TO AN ATHEIST, BUT THERE IS LOVE OVERFLOWING OUT OF MY HEART FOR “EVERYONE”, REGARDLESS OF BELIEFS.

Just because something is not Disproved doesn’t mean it is true.
I could say that the whole universe is held up by an infinite amount of invisible, undetectable turtles. So, because you can’t disprove it does it mean its true?

Many more great minds were Christian and Jewish, my friend.

Try looking up Buddhism, it’s a religion. Even just a simple wiki search shows  that. Come on, at least put a little effort in before making claims.

Most records outside Hitler’s public speeches showed he hated Christianity, his policies also showed this. He was raised Catholic. Even in his speeches he quotes Martin Luther (because he was an anti-semite), and his publicly claimed philosophy was of an aryan Christ, that Paul corrupted Christianity, therefore negating most scripture. He persecuted the Catholic church often with things like the Immorality Trials. Even if you were to believe him in his speeches, he still wouldn’t even really be Christian, let alone Catholic, since he completely rewrites history including Christ himself; Muslims also believe in Jesus, but they are not Christians.

how do you know that hitler preferred islam? what proof do you have? 

Oregon, at least the big cities, are a good place for atheists.  However, if you are like me and hate coffee, you’re completely isolated and ostracized by your fellow citizens.

Who says God can’t be a therapist? Im deeply Catholic and you haveNO reason to bi*** at my religion cause it’s “Bullcrap” oh but when we say Atheists are wrong and you get butthurt. Maybe you grow up.

God bless your freaking soul, scum.

Well it was written in the bible that disobedient children should be stoned. I think that’s a bad thing, however you say that every word should be followed, so I guess we need to start.

I would call what you did getting butthurt, but I digress.

Say I claimed that I saw a twenty foot tall, pink bunny rabbit while walking through the woods. Say I then told you that forensic evidence could not disprove he wasn’t there, because he has magic powers that allow him to walk around without leaving any indication that he was ever there.  You cannot disprove that the rabbit does not exist. So should you be skeptical? Should you admit that my story is possible, or credible, just because you can’t disprove it? Science doesn’t directly disprove any god. What it does show is that there is no evidence one exists.

Hi David,
Consider the other side of the argument though. Just looking at facts, how does your argument hold up. I know that many of your beliefs about about creation are based on a trial and error system that came about by the “big bang”. Even the atom in itself is too perfect for someone to say that it came about by trial and error. All these different elements that combine to form amazing molecules such as water which is part of the reason we have life on this Earth. And yet in all the universe no one has been able to find it in its liquid state. I know they’ve found those planets in the Goldilocks zone where it MIGHT be possible, but thats 1 in what a trillion at least? The logic is much more sensible that this was not a coincidence, it was on purpose. That this all happened for a reason. I don’t say this with bitterness and hate. I say this because I care, I’d hate to see you go your whole life believing something that just doesn’t make sense.

love, 
Julia

i am a scientist and i can assure you that science does not prove or disprove God.  There are many scientists who do not believe in God.  There are also many scientists who do believe in GOd (i.e. John Polkinghorn).  How things came to be has an answer outside science – either there has always been a God who created the universe or there has always been the pre-existence of matter which somehow reacted to produce the universe.  The claims of Dawkins does not fly well most of the scientists i know – they disavow that the matter can be decided by science .

There is also no evidence proving that life can evolve from nothing. Every experiment trying to prove so ends the same, and that is that DNA and everything else naturally breaks down rather than building up.
There is also the fact that the only evidence “proving” evolution is micro-evolution. It only changes existing features rather than creating new ones. At that point it proves nothing other than what had been shown through domestic dog breeding for thousands of years, recessive genes can turn into dominant and continue in that direction through man-made breeding or in this case environmental changes. Also even the Neanderthal had human qualities that do not belong to animals such as the ability to create art and bury their own dead. Then there’s the fact that (atheistic) evolution is based off random mutations which means there should be tons of out of place mutations in the fossil record and continuing currently.

The bible has historicity, many archaeological findings and outside historians verified it’s historical accounts.

You are not to worship the bible but follow the words of the bible.  Have you ever read the bible and saw how many of the intellectually moral decisions one should make to live their life are indisputable…
I’ve had my share of troubles in this country and I’ve realized that not once have I thought, what would the bible say about this situation.  So I searched for what 
the bible says about Trespassing.  It seems to me, it 
says nothing.  This is where I looked it up:
http://www.openbible.info/topics/trespassing 

First example of about 100…

 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

They don’t knoweth what trespassing is.

In fact, even though they don’t know it and it’s not written in the bible… the have a prayer for it.

Christians just need to be by your side… to
help you along.  I kinda learned that from the 
habitat for the homeless duplexes with 
unrelated families entering into doors that
were placed next to each other.

I think the Christians need to learn what Trespassing means and how important it is to Countries like Iran.

I take my stand while being “saved” at a rehab w/o drug
or alcohol arrests.  Sent to a church that says the
only children of god are those that are born again.

I don’t go anymore… I felt like I was trespassing.

Choosing to be Agnostic is a wise decision… the BEST of both worlds.
I don’t want to be judged by the atheist or religious party. 
Let swamij speak on the subject:
http://www.swamij.com/theism-atheism-yoga-fear.htm Theists and Atheists in your family: If either of these types of people, Theist or Atheist, are present in your family, social and career worlds, the unspoken (or spoken) pressure to conform, follow, or convert to their views can be a tremendous threat to your sense of well being, both in terms of emotional response and the realities of functioning in a world of such people. This fear can have a devastating effect on ones feelings of safety in family, community, and professional life, and, in turn, on spiritual life. It can cause hesitancy, timidness, reluctance, mistrust, self-doubt, and other such emotions and reactions, which are often projections of an underlying fear. These, in turn, are antagonists to the tranquility or peace of mind consistent with meditation and other spiritual practices.

You’re confused.  Unlike religion, evolutionary science does not claim to know all the answers about life and the universe.  It is not a “non-religious” view. It simply presents the evidence that scientists have discovered through observations, experiments and research.  

Religion is just a bunch of talk, it does not actively seek knowledge about the world around us like science does.  That’s why evolution is taught in schools – it presents FACTS and EVIDENCE about life that have been discovered through hard work and research.  And this work is continuous, new information is being discovered everyday.  This knowledge is an invaluable tool for students – it enlightens them, promotes critical thinking, and satiates the natural curiosity of the human mind.

Religion, on the other hand, has not provided humans with a shred of factual knowledge about life or the universe around us, nor is it actively seeking to find any such information.  Religious ideas are both baseless and unchanging – they do not provide evidence for any claims nor do they encourage any sort of critical thinking.  It’s like a dead end for the human mind.  

Thus, scientific and and religious ideas ARE NOT two sides of the same coin that should be taught to students as equal viewpoints.  If anything, the only thing that is worth teaching about religion is it’s relation to human culture and history.  But no way “hell” should it be taught as an alternative to science.

And tell us Johnnyswing1984, just what is your alternative to this great disappointment, this blind ignorance, this pathetic life we Christians live?  Just what is this great utopia you’ve discovered, this great truth that would cleanse and purify our brainwashed minds of blind Christian worship?  Do you honestly think we’re not capable of understanding this grandiose logical reasoning you’ve otained? Christians discarded that many centuries ago as utter nonsense…foolish childish rebellion…beliefs of darkness….works of the anti-christ….the same knowledge you have.  I don’t even expect you to understand that.  You would have to believe in a power higher than yourself which you atheist are actually capable but unwilling to do.  How I honestly pity you and your logical reasoning.  How I pity your soul.

We’ll go on believing in God and Jesus Johnnyswing1984 because we know it to be a truth just as you believe it’s a lie.  We don’t owe you and your atheist friends any proof…the proof was the death on the cross and resurrection of Christ, and not anything of our own.   I hope some day you understand that, although it may take a splash of cold water to your face.  You are wrong Johnny! …you can fix stupid.

You realize Atheism IS a religion right? So saying ‘religious small minded nut-jobs’ includes Athiests just as much as it does any other religion.

Those people are called Radical Extremists. Look it up. Not everyone who is religious is like that. I’m not saying everyone who is religious is happy and a good person and ect, but I am saying that just because there is a group of people who take it too far, it doesn’t mean that everyone who believes in the same God and concepts are the same. Talk about arrogance.

hah come on do you really believe idiots like bill maher are the greatest minds on earth