1. Geography of Religion In USA
Chap 6 Religion Envs 204

2. 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

3. Religious differences & disputes are central to our history Background
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
Signing Mayflower Compact
41 of the 102 passengers were Puritan others were called “strangers”

4. 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 1686
King’s Chapel

5. 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

6. Self reported data

7. Polls
Pew, Harris, National Survey of Religious Identification (NSRI), American Religious Identity Survey (ARIS),…
Source

9. Recent Harris Poll Results

10. American Religious Self-Identification Survey

11. The politics of race and religion — in two pie charts
By Chris Cillizza, Published: September 10, Washington Post
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.

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

16. Church or Synagog Attendance shows slightly differerent pattern

17. Regional Concentrations
From Religious Atlas of USA

24. Includes groups like: Churches of Christ, unaffiliated Christian Church/Church of Christ congregations, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone-Campbell Movement, and pejoratively as Campbellism) is a Christian movement that began on the United States frontier during the Second Great Awakening (1790–1840) of the early 19th century. The pioneers of this movement were seeking to reform the church from within [1] and sought "the unification of all Christians in a single body patterned after the church of the New Testament."[2]:54 It has been described as the "oldest ecumenical movement in America":[3]
Local Example Bellingham:
First Christian Church
495 E Bakerview Rd

26. Urban & Rural Patterns

31. Patterns
Largest Group varies by Region

33. Clear Spatial Patterns for Religious Groups
Processes
Urban vs Rural
East vs West/ or North vs South
East to West Migration
Largest regional groups and causes
Politically split religions
The frozen north? Or Garrison Keller’s buddies. Initial immigration pattern

34. Let’s Explore WA State

35. Speculation
Religious Affiliation will continue to effect nation and Religious history
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?