Alabama Landscapes
Religion
Religion
By any measure, religion is important in Alabama.
Figure R1. Roadside Sign, I-65 N of Montgomery. (Image © Mike Neilson)
In 2001, 88% of adult Alabamians said that they have religious beliefs and 84% said that they were Christian (Table R1). Those numbers rank Alabama very near the top in religious states. The most religious states in the survey were: North Dakota 91%, South Carolina and South Dakota 90%, Texas 89% and Alabama 88% (American Religious Identification Survey 2001), justifying its self-described position as the buckle of the bible belt (Figure R1).
Table R1. Adult Religious Preference 2001 (American Religious Identification Survey 2001. http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/aris_index.htm)
|
|
Alabama |
USA |
|
Christian |
84% |
77% |
|
Jewish |
1% |
1% |
|
Muslim/Islamic |
<0.5% |
1% |
|
Buddhist |
<0.5% |
1% |
|
Other |
3% |
2% |
|
None |
6% |
14% |
|
No Response |
6% |
5% |
Unlike the nation as a whole (Table R2), Baptists are the main denomination in Alabama (37% of adults) and Catholics next (13% of adults).
Table R2. Christian Groups. (American
Religious Identification Survey 2001, CUNY
http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/aris_index.htm)
END