New York not among the most religious states
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- December
- 24
You can’t be surprised.
Sure, there are tons of churches and synagogues in New York and lots of religious people to fill them.
But New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley—make that downstate to upstaters—is home to plenty of non-believers, free-thinkers and a lot of people whose faith is not a top priority in their lives.
Right?
According to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, New York is the 39th most religious state. The ranking is based on New Yorkers’ answer to one, key question: Whether religion is “very important” in their lives.
Only 46% said yes.
The national average is 56%. Mississippi came in first at 82%—way ahead of Alabama and Arkansas at 74%.
Yes, the top 10 is dominated by the South. Just like college football.
And the least religious state?
I would have guessed Washington state, which came in 36th in religious-ness.
Last place was a tie between neighbors New Hampshire and Vermont, where only 36 percent say religion is very important in their New England lives.
What would the Puritans say?
This entry was posted
on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
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