Religion in Indiana... (Terre Haute: house, living in, shopping mall)

[jc76]

First of all I am not here to stir up any kind of war. I just have a few questions.
Over the last 10 years I have noticed a growth in churches in Indiana, mainly Northern Indiana. When I was a kid growing up it was never so widespread. I was never bothered by "recruiters" either. Do you think maybe it has to do with the increase of Southerners who moved up here for the work back in the 70's and 80's?
That's what I believe because many of these religious folk have roots in the south (or at least say they do).
I am doing research on religion in America and it's effects, both positive and negative.

!!! I am only trying to better understand how the state of Indiana has become an extension of the bible belt. The several other states I have already researched did not have the growth equivalent to Indiana so that's also sparked my interest. I am NOT, repeat NOT here to discuss each persons individual beliefs, nor will I participate in such discussion. I am here for the sole purpose to research HOW religion has become so prevalent here.
Thanks!

[domergurl]

I moved your thread to the general Indiana board. I think that what you are asking can be researched using religious demographics, which I'm sure are available all over these internet tubes.

[Future Trooper]

I do notice that the amount of church goers and churches is unusually high in Hendricks County. Not to say there is nothing wrong with that. It is good to see that alot of kids in hendricks county are hearing the word of god.

[Jaxson]

Indiana has always been part of the "bible belt". When things get tough is when people start turning back to God look at 911. Doesn't surprise me more churhes are being built though or churches going into old shopping malls and abandoned buildings.

[jc76]

Hmm, 9-11 did have an impact. It made some people fear for their lives, then turning to god for protection. I have to disagree that Indiana was always part of the bible belt. I also wonder why many of the other religions are not practiced here. Buddism, Judism, etc etc. It seems mainly conservative christian. Trying to find what the main key was in turning this state. I pretty much got all the data I need so if the mods want to kill this thread that's fine. I don't want it to turn into a warzone. Thank you all

[domergurl]

You have to look at immigration patterns for Indiana to answer your question.

[Badlands17]

The state was mainly originally settled (talking before 1850) by people previously living in Virginia and North Carolina, so the state's always had a bit more of a Southern culture than its neighbors. Maybe the rural parts of the southern half are part of the Bible Belt but that's really a stretch. In Terre Haute I've only been approached at my house in the past 5 years by Mormons and some nondenominational evangelical church around here, so I think a lot of what you're seeing is the specific region you reside in and not the state itself. If you lived in a more urban area when you grew up and then moved to a more rural one, that might explain a lot; once you get out of the TH city core, it's a lot more Southern culture, including high religious faith.