America’s Regional Religions

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Posted by Connor on July 11th, 2006

I came across an interesting graphic today that shows America’s religions by region, as of six years ago (click to enlarge):

My observations:

I’d like to see this same graph, but have it also reflect activity rates within that religion. So, the updated graph would use color intensity to represent activity rates. The brighter the color is, the higher that religion’s average activity rate is. Based on this article, Catholics have a 28% rate, and Protestants have a 20% rate. I’d imagine we’d see a lot less blue if this reflected actual church-going rates.
That’s a lot of freakin’ red, dude.
What’s with the random isolated Mormon splotches? Southwest Oregon, the northern tip of Idaho, etc.
I had no idea there were that many Lutherans. Why north-central USA?
The northeastern states seems to have an overwhelming majority of (declared) Catholics.
Utah is totally brown. Couldn’t they have picked a better color… say, orange? Or maybe in representation of our state’s staple, green Jello, they could have let us swap colors with the Methodists.

The website where this graph is located also has more graphs worth checking out.

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7 comments so far. Care to chime in?

“I had no idea there were that many Lutherans. Why north-central USA? ”

Scandinavian immigrants.

#1 Adam Greenwood | July 12th, 2006 11:49 AM

I’d like to see this same graph, but have it also reflect activity rates within that religion. So, the updated graph would use color intensity to represent activity rates. The brighter the color is, the higher that religion’s average activity rate is. Based on this article, Catholics have a 28% rate, and Protestants have a 20% rate. I’d imagine we’d see a lot less blue if this reflected actual church-going rates.

In 2000, the church claimed just over 5 million members. In 2001, only 2.7 million members claimed to be lds. Only half of the 5 “million strong” in the US claim to even be mormons. I believe nationally, activity rate is about 30%, so only about 60% of mormons who claim to be mormon even attend.

#2 the narrator | July 12th, 2006 12:47 PM

Yeah, I’ve heard these same numbers. I actually heard that the LDS church has more of a 50% rate, but I don’t know if that’s for the USA or worldwide (which I presume would be lower, given the retention problems I saw in Honduras).

#3 Connor | July 12th, 2006 12:51 PM

[...] ref=”http://blog.moregoodfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/church_bodies.jpg”> Source: American’s Regional Religions

Categories: Mormon, Cool Sites, Posted a [...]

#4 More Good Foundation Blog » America’s Religions by Region | July 12th, 2006 3:11 PM

US Religeons in 2000

To gratify Connor, I’ve given us the green Jell-O flavor he so desired

*Thanks Brandon for the quick photoshop help.

…

#5 Latter-day Blog | July 18th, 2006 7:44 AM

The one that wigged me out the most was Decatur Co, IA (the fifth little square from the west in that state). Turns out, that’s the site of Graceland University, the Community of Christ’s school. Lamoni’s a major centre for them.

As for the isolated splotches, who besides Mormons would settle Boundary Co, ID or middle of nowhere NV? Have you been to Coeur d’Alene?

#6 alea | July 18th, 2006 2:14 PM