As reported in USA Today a new Gallup poll ranks Vermont as the least religious state in the the country.
A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people — 85% — say yes when asked "Is religion an important part of your daily life?"
Less than half of Vermonters, meanwhile — 42% — answered that same question in the affirmative.
With exit polls on Election Day that ranked the state the most liberal in the country (highest percent of voters who categorized themselves so), Vermont may be in danger. I'm not saying there is a direct correlation between godlessness and liberalism, but others may make this connection and either launch missiles, or invade to join the crowd. Neither would bode well for Vermont's peace of mind.
Details below...
There are regional commonalities.
New England predominates in the top "least religious" states: Following Vermont are New Hampshire (46%), Maine (48%), Massachusetts (48%), Alaska (51%) and Washington (52%).
"Clearly, states in the South in particular, but also some states in the Southwest and Rocky Mountains ... have very religious residents and New England states in particular, coupled with states like Alaska and others, are irreligious," said Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of The Gallup Poll.
I have personal opinions about the role of religion in public life, globally, which I have on occasion expressed on Daily Kos. I distinguish between religion (an organization with dogmas and at least some hierachy), and spirituality, which may or may not inhabit people who belong to religions. But I'll leave that subject for another treatise, or not.
I just found the results interesting, and in a few cases, unexpected. (e.g. Utah is not among the most religious states.)
What do you make of it?
Here's the whole USA Today story:
http://www.usatoday.com/...
And here's the rankings:
Following is Gallup's entire list of states, in order of what percentage of respondents said religion is "an important part" of their daily lives:
• Mississippi: 85%
• Alabama: 82%
• South Carolina: 80%
• Tennessee: 79%
• Louisiana: 78%
• Arkansas: 78%
• Georgia: 76%
• North Carolina: 76%
• Oklahoma: 75%
• Kentucky: 74%
• Texas: 74%
• West Virginia: 71%
• Kansas: 70%
• Utah: 69%
• Missouri: 68%
• Virginia: 68%
• South Dakota: 68%
• North Dakota: 68%
• Indiana: 68%
• Nebraska: 67%
• New Mexico: 66%
• Pennsylvania: 65%
• Florida: 65%
• Maryland: 65%
• Ohio: 65%
• Iowa: 64%
• Minnesota: 64%
• Illinois: 64%
• Michigan: 64%
• Delaware: 61%
• Wisconsin: 61%
• District of Columbia: 61%
• Idaho: 61%
• Arizona: 61%
• New Jersey: 60%
• Wyoming: 58%
• Colorado: 57%
• Hawaii: 57%
• California: 57%
• Montana: 56%
• New York: 56%
• Connecticut: 55%
• Nevada: 54%
• Rhode Island: 53%
• Oregon: 53%
• Washington: 52%
• Alaska: 51%
• Massachusetts: 48%
• Maine: 48%
• New Hampshire: 46%
• Vermont: 42%