People in Dallas: good & bad (Houston, San Antonio: crime, colleges, gated)

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Dallas native

Once again I will respond by saying that the mere existence of churches and religiously affiliated educational institutions in Ft. Worth, Dallas and Irving does not prove that the overall population of Dallas is majority S. Baptist evangelical. Were that the case, I really don't think that Obama would have won Dallas County. Besides, some of the very institutions that you listed are not even Baptist but are instead Disciples of Christ (TCU), Methodist (SMU) and Catholic (Univ. of Dallas). Your argument is just incoherent. I have asked you to prove the veracity of that statement before and you are never able to do so. Instead you deflect by saying that those who disagree with you are in denial. You're very adept at taking bits and pieces of information and packaging them in such a way that you come to a conclusion that supports your agenda. But you're very transparent. Based on your logic, the majority of people in Dallas must be gay since there are so many gay bars in Dallas. And, since there are also a lot of strip clubs, it's safe to assume that the majority of people who live in Dallas must be pole dancers too.

I think the largest single religious denomination here is probably Roman Catholicism, especially since we have had such a large influx of Hispanics here in Texas. Unless you count Protestants as a single denomination, I think Catholics are easily the biggest religious group here.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

I think the largest single religious denomination here is probably Roman Catholicism, especially since we have had such a large influx of Hispanics here in Texas. Unless you count Protestants as a single denomination, I think Catholics are easily the biggest religious group here.

According to City Data and other places, you'd be correct.

[TheNewUrbanism]

The Association of Religion Data Archives has the most complete estimates of religious adherence data; they show Catholicism and Southern Baptist (an Evangelical Protestant subset) as the two largest single affiliations in Dallas and surrounding counties. However, "unclaimed" (atheists, the religiously-unaffiliated, and members of unenumerated faiths, including AA churches) is consistently the largest single group, outnumbering Catholicism plus Evangelical Protestant.

It appears that the rate of religious affiliation in Dallas is comparable with other urban areas in the United States when viewed at an aggregate level. However, its Protestant affiliation, and Evangelical Protestant affiliation in particular, is considerably higher than many other cities, where high levels of Catholic affiliation are responsible for the majority of participation numbers.

Thus, it seems safe to say that, (A) religious participation in Dallas is no higher than most other cities; and (B) the affiliation of those participants is skewed more strongly towards Evangelical Protestantism than in other cities. Or, to put it another way, you're no more likely to run into a religious person in Dallas than anywhere else, but it's considerably more likely he/she will be an evangelical Christian.

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by TheNewUrbanism

The Association of Religion Data Archives has the most complete estimates of religious adherence data; they show Catholicism and Southern Baptist (an Evangelical Protestant subset) as the two largest single affiliations in Dallas and surrounding counties. However, "unclaimed" (atheists, the religiously-unaffiliated, and members of unenumerated faiths, including AA churches) is consistently the largest single group, outnumbering Catholicism plus Evangelical Protestant.

It appears that the rate of religious affiliation in Dallas is comparable with other urban areas in the United States when viewed at an aggregate level. However, its Protestant affiliation, and Evangelical Protestant affiliation in particular, is considerably higher than many other cities, where high levels of Catholic affiliation are responsible for the majority of participation numbers.

Thus, it seems safe to say that, (A) religious participation in Dallas is no higher than most other cities; and (B) the affiliation of those participants is skewed more strongly towards Evangelical Protestantism than in other cities. Or, to put it another way, you're no more likely to run into a religious person in Dallas than anywhere else, but it's considerably more likely he/she will be an evangelical Christian.

Interesting breakdown... thanks.

[Dallas native]

Originally Posted by TXNGL

According to City Data and other places, you'd be correct.

I would agree with that too. But, according to AZRIVERFAN, we're all just in denial.

[Dallas native]

Originally Posted by TheNewUrbanism

The Association of Religion Data Archives has the most complete estimates of religious adherence data; they show Catholicism and Southern Baptist (an Evangelical Protestant subset) as the two largest single affiliations in Dallas and surrounding counties. However, "unclaimed" (atheists, the religiously-unaffiliated, and members of unenumerated faiths, including AA churches) is consistently the largest single group, outnumbering Catholicism plus Evangelical Protestant.

It appears that the rate of religious affiliation in Dallas is comparable with other urban areas in the United States when viewed at an aggregate level. However, its Protestant affiliation, and Evangelical Protestant affiliation in particular, is considerably higher than many other cities, where high levels of Catholic affiliation are responsible for the majority of participation numbers.

Thus, it seems safe to say that, (A) religious participation in Dallas is no higher than most other cities; and (B) the affiliation of those participants is skewed more strongly towards Evangelical Protestantism than in other cities. Or, to put it another way, you're no more likely to run into a religious person in Dallas than anywhere else, but it's considerably more likely he/she will be an evangelical Christian.

Thank you for providing some much needed clarity on this subject. I looked up the website you referred to and found it to be quite user friendly: The Association of Religion Data Archives | Maps & Reports

[Lakewooder]

Having grown up a S. Baptist in Dallas I have to say that we in the moderate churches thought First Baptist was a weirdo cult. Then again others thought we were weird because we were 'Baptist'. Anyhow, most of the folks from my church who were there as youth are not regular church-goers today.

Even back in the seventies we elected a senior class president at my high school who was the 'agnostic' son of a shrink.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

I'm really starting to warm up to Dallas, think I'm going to visit in September & do a Dallas/Austin combo trip. When I went to Atlanta I did not run into the evengelical and flamboyantly hyper christian stereotype that Georgia seems to live up to. I figured Dallas is big and diverse enough to be an open and tollerant city but without the urban attitude that's found in the Northeast.

[Dallas native]

Originally Posted by caphillsea77

I figured Dallas is big and diverse enough to be an open and tollerant city but without the urban attitude that's found in the Northeast.

You figured right Be prepared for the heat if you come in September because it can still be as hot as hell at that point.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

I think the largest single religious denomination here is probably Roman Catholicism, especially since we have had such a large influx of Hispanics here in Texas. Unless you count Protestants as a single denomination, I think Catholics are easily the biggest religious group here.

Nope

Dallas is Southern Baptist, Houston & San Antonio are Catholic.