Thursday, January 31, 2013

CLT: One of America's top 'Bible-minded' cities


Hello from the Observer's new/old Faith & Values reporter!


After more than a year of covering politicians -- especially the ones who came to town for the DNC -- I am back to covering preachers in and around Charlotte.

The same Charlotte, by the way, that was recently named one of America's "10 Most Bible-Minded Cities" in America.

That's according to a new ranking by the New York-based American Bible Society, which surveyed residents' regular Bible reading and belief in the Good Book's accuracy.

Charlotte was No. 7 on the national Top 10 list, and well ahead of Asheville/Greenville/Spartanburg (No. 11), Winston-Salem (No. 19) and Raleigh-Durham (No. 22).

Big cities like Charlotte rarely make these kinds of lists. In fact, the folks at the American Bible Society say, only three of the Top 25 Bible-minded markets have populations of more than a million souls -- Charlotte; Nashville, Tenn; and Raleigh-Durham.

So what is THE most Bible-minded city? Knoxville, Tenn.

And the LEAST-Bible minded market, according to the survey conducted by the Barna Group: Providence, R.I./New Bedford, Mass.


-- Tim Funk
     

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

And Salt Lake City is 84th? And Colorado Springs is only 54th? Waco's on 59th? Knowing the reigiousness of those communities, I think there are some inconsistancies with this survey.

Anonymous said...

We need more atheists in this town!

Anonymous said...

Good list to be on! Cool.

Anonymous said...

I'm not the least surprised. If you have driven around you will notice we have churches in almost every corner. Every time I go to restaurants or bars people leave tracts in the bathroom stalls. Charlotteans favorite topic of conversations is religion. They have a long history of it, considering this is the birthplace of Billy Graham and the center of where Jim & Tammy Faye had PTL in the 1980s... Today there are ministries all over Charlotte. Do you know that the street musicians you hear on Trade & Tryon St. every Saturday night is provided for you by a church ministry? I think it's great!

Anonymous said...

Too bad many people don't act like it. The bible is used as a tool to discriminate.

Anonymous said...

Great to have you back Tim.

As to the first comment, Mormons read the Book of Mormon. They are NOT Christians. Second, the banks need the Bible and patriarchy to screw us taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

Typical Christian jihadist comments. I bet some here don't think Catholics are 'Christians' either. Cue the 'follow my personal brand of christianity or be brended as an infidel' comments in 3...2...1...

Anonymous said...

Bible minded. But not bible believing. Otherwise, would not be so liberal in moral ethics.

Anonymous said...

What a terrific marketing tool for attracting business and brains!

Take that, Raleigh!

Anonymous said...

The fact that you refer to 'charlotte, usa' as a 'big city' is laughable.

Anonymous said...

This is great. However, the Marriage Amendment lost in Charlotte. We have a fair amount of liberal minded bible minded folks.

Anonymous said...

This isn't comforting. I'd rather that Charlotte be known as one of the most diverse and tolerant cities. Not everyone here is a Christian. What if Charlotte were recognized as one of America's top 'Torah-minded' cities?

Anonymous said...

If that would bring us a few good Jewish delis, 3:43, I'm all for it. :)