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I think the "Bible Belt" describes a certain kind of religiosity, not religiosity in general.
For example, the Bible Belt is generally associated with a vehement rejection of the theory of evolution, Christian fundamentalism, and "evangelical" churches.
I don't think any of this is true in Minnesota, where Lutherans and Catholics dominate the religious scene. They may attend church weekly, but they're religious in a different way than perhaps Southerners are. They're still religious, though.
Exactly, this is what I've been trying to say all thread.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tvdxer
I think the "Bible Belt" describes a certain kind of religiosity, not religiosity in general.
For example, the Bible Belt is generally associated with a vehement rejection of the theory of evolution, Christian fundamentalism, and "evangelical" churches.
I don't think any of this is true in Minnesota, where Lutherans and Catholics dominate the religious scene. They may attend church weekly, but they're religious in a different way than perhaps Southerners are. They're still religious, though.
Yeah it's more the South has a higher proportion of those types of Biblical literalists than other areas, but an Evangelical in San Francisco is probably every bit as his counterpart in Alabama, at least that's the impression I get, I could be wrong.
However, per capita I would say states like Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio probably have as many evangelicals per capita as North Carolina. Or am I wrong about this?
[quote=Trimac20;24578153]Yeah it's more the South has a higher proportion of those types of Biblical literalists than other areas, but an Evangelical in San Francisco is probably every bit as his counterpart in Alabama, at least that's the impression I get, I could be wrong.
However, per capita I would say states like Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio probably have as many evangelicals per capita as North Carolina. Or am I wrong about this?[/quote]
Yeah it's more the South has a higher proportion of those types of Biblical literalists than other areas, but an Evangelical in San Francisco is probably every bit as his counterpart in Alabama, at least that's the impression I get, I could be wrong.
However, per capita I would say states like Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio probably have as many evangelicals per capita as North Carolina. Or am I wrong about this?
I think the problem here is that the "Bible Belt" - in the American sense - does not refer to individual believers. It refers to a certain cultural milieu which devout Christianity, or even devout Christian Evangelicalism or Christian Fundamentalism does not intrinsically lend itself to.
I think the problem here is that the "Bible Belt" - in the American sense - does not refer to individual believers. It refers to a certain cultural milieu which devout Christianity, or even devout Christian Evangelicalism or Christian Fundamentalism does not intrinsically lend itself to.
Exactly. It refers to a culture, not individuals.
I could be a wacky fundamentalist in Canada, doesn't mean the Bible Belt extends up there.
The wacko culture has to become part of the entire culture. It has to be in the government, business, entertainment, etc. . . and that only fits in The South.
^wacky fundamentalism isn't part of the entire culture, most people here think that those folks are crazy. They're always on Beale Street or any big festival in Memphis preaching on the street. Most people walk by, ignore them, and keep drinking their beer. Those kinds of people are not seen as normal here.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Smtchll
^wacky fundamentalism isn't part of the entire culture, most people here think that those folks are crazy. They're always on Beale Street or any big festival in Memphis preaching on the street. Most people walk by, ignore them, and keep drinking their beer. Those kinds of people are not seen as normal here.
Even in the small towns they're not normal
Maybe because Beale isn't exactly the place where street preachers would fit in.
Maybe because Beale isn't exactly the place where street preachers would fit in.
They could preach at the local Wal-Mart and most people would still think they're crazy. These people aren't the norm here. And besides, most of the street preachers preach against sin (like drunkenness on Beale Street) and believe that you have to live a perfect life to go to heaven, whereas most Evangelicals here believe that you have to be born again and you're guaranteed to go to heaven, regardless of past, present, or future sins.
They could preach at the local Wal-Mart and most people would still think they're crazy. These people aren't the norm here. And besides, most of the street preachers preach against sin (like drunkenness on Beale Street) and believe that you have to live a perfect life to go to heaven, whereas most Evangelicals here believe that you have to be born again and you're guaranteed to go to heaven, regardless of past, present, or future sins.
and imo they are just as crazy as the street preachers. Anyone know why the US is so full of these crazy evangelicals compared to Australia, Canada, Europe? Why do we have so many here holding the US back.
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We have those 'crazy street preachers' here too, and its common to see a large crowd athered to watch people argue with them. It's like fighter challenging people to take him on.
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