The Countrys Most Post-Christian Cities Are Also the Places You Want to Live

[NeoGreen]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/12/the-countrys-most-post-christian-cities-are-also-the-places-you-want-to-live/

The Country’s Most “Post-Christian” Cities Are Also the Places You Want to Live
July 12, 2017 by Hemant Mehta

The Barna group, a Christian polling firm, has released its latest list of the most “post-Christian” cities in the country. It’s meant to serve as a warning, but it nicely doubles as a map of places you wouldn’t mind moving to one day.

Barna has developed a metric to measure the changing religious landscape of American culture. We call this the “post-Christian” metric. To qualify as “post-Christian,” individuals must meet nine or more of our 16 criteria… which identify a lack of Christian identity, belief and practice…

These kinds of questions — compared to ticking the “Christian” box in a census — get beyond how people loosely identify themselves (affiliation) and to the core of what people actually believe and how they behave as a result of their belief (practice). These indicators give a much more accurate picture of belief and unbelief in America.

In other words, these are the cities where religion is most likely to be considered an afterthought. 10 of them have a post-Christian “score” of 50% or greater, and those cities are almost all found in the Northeast and the West Coast. (Incidentally, several of the cities on Gallup’s list of the communities with the highest levels of well-being make an appearance on the post-Christian list. Coincidence…?)

That list of criteria makes for a nice checklist, too. What’s your score?!

Do not believe in God
Identify as atheist or agnostic
Disagree that faith is important in their lives
Have not prayed to God (in the last week)
Have never made a commitment to Jesus
Disagree the Bible is accurate
Have not donated money to a church (in the last year)
Have not attended a Christian church (in the last 6 months)
Agree that Jesus committed sins
Do not feel a responsibility to “share their faith”
Have not read the Bible (in the last week)
Have not volunteered at church (in the last week)
Have not attended Sunday school (in the last week)
Have not attended religious small group (in the last week)
Bible engagement scale: low (have not read the Bible in the past week and disagree strongly or somewhat that the Bible is accurate)
Not Born Again

[Hokie]

1. As an atheist would you actually choose a place to live based on this criteria?

Quick answer for me is no. There are other factors on quality of life to consider. However, I once thought I would like to retire in the Blue Ridge area of the Appalachians. It is gorgeous country. I changed my mind because of the politics and predominance of Christian fundamentalism in that area. As the importance of the Internet communities like DU and social media grow however I think it makes areas like that more survivable.

I think religion or lack of is a factor but one of several for me.

[rurallib]

3. as you say, it would be one of many criteria

but the predominance of religion in an area could sure be a major reason not to move to a town.

[DBoon]

2. That list actually defines evangelical fundamentalism as "Christianity"

Probably a third of that list a devout Roman Catholic would have problems with.

[rurallib]

4. "never made a commitment to Jesus" wonder how far back they go?

nothing as an adult, but as a kid my parents and others had me convinced I was priest material - oh my! Else, I am good.

Also I note that that the cities are coastal - no real surprise.

[progressoid]

7. Farther down the list there are some cities around us.

Although, the way they combined cities is odd. Not sure why they did that.

#21 Cedar Rapids - Waterloo

#40 Des Moines - Ames

[rurallib]

8. looked for a full list and couldn't find one - thanks much

I am guessing Iowa City would be in that mix also or did it suddenly turn religious?

[Jim Lane]

5. I'm embarrassed to say I scored only 15/16.

I couldn't honestly go along with "Agree that Jesus committed sins" when I'm not sure that Jesus even existed.

Of the ten cities, nine of them have serious winters. The exception, San Francisco, is notoriously expensive. As I think about retirement, I want mild weather and low cost of living, among other things. If that means I end up in a community where I'm the odd man out in terms of religion, well, I'd probably accept that tradeoff. But it is an interesting list.

[Lordquinton]

6. Think of it as "Jesus as written"

That list is actually like 23 cities all lumped together, but I suppose it's all the same to them.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. Auburn, ME but not Lewiston, ME ?

They're practically one city, on opposite banks of the river.

[funflower]

10. Portland(ia), OR is less "post-Christian" than Omaha, NE?

I think not.