Geography of Religion In USA Chap 6 Religion Envs 204 1

Objectives Spatial Distribution of Religion in USA –Sources of Data and Trends –Regional Distributions Explanations for Differential Distribution –Immigration into the USA –Internal Migration Speculation on Consequences –Political Behavior –Community Stability 2

Americanisms – Founders came for Religious Freedom (ignores what pull factor?) Religious differences & disputes are central to our history –Enshrined in Bill of Rights –Greater diversity then anywhere else in world –Recent elections raise new religious issues Gay marriage Abortion “Correct” religious background Background 3 Signing Mayflower Compact

Introduction Conclusion – Religion has important role However in US it is more complex and less uniform then many believe –Historical – who was on the Mayflower, what was the complete purpose of Plymouth Plantation? –What happened to non-Puritans in Boston? Quakers King’s Chapel King’s Chapel

Religious Make up Data – what is available –Census? – Not available –Where else available? Religious body data –Different groups different rules –Practicing? »Protestants »Catholics »Others –Problem – data not uniform, unsatisfactory 5

Self reported data 6

Polls Pew, Harris, National Survey of Religious Identification (NSRI), American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS),… Source file:///F:/Egeo201/Religion/rel_USA.html 7

8 Recent Harris Poll Results

9 American Religious Self-Identification Survey

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11 The politics of race and religion — in two pie charts By Chris Cillizza, Published: September 10, 2012 Washington PostChris Cillizza washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/09/10/the-politics-of-race-and-religion-in-two-pie-charts/ Fully 87% … are white in 2012 Pew polling while just 5 percent are Hispanic and four percent are black.

12 Sixty-one percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaners are white while 21 percent are black and 10 percent are Hispanic.

Summary Note the great variation in estimates of percentage and numbers of Christians (82% vs. 71%) Note the growing importance of Non- Christians Thus we can only make broad statements – use with caution 13

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15 Church or Synagog Attendance shows slightly differerent pattern

Regional Concentrations From Religious Atlas of USA 16

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Urban & Rural Patterns 24

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Patterns Largest Group varies by Region 29

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Clear Spatial Patters for Religious Groups Urban vs Rural East vs West/ or North vs South Largest national group Politically split religions The frozen north? Or Garrison Keller’s buddies. 31

Speculation Religious Affiliation will continue to effect nation Regional differences will change –More merging of older groups –Current Expansion of Evangelicals –Continued increase of internal migration –New immigrants bring religion to borders –Increase of religiously non-affiliated Greater diversity of electorate in the future, more difficult to play the religion card? 32

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